Dipstick with TTI headers

[mrwfp]

Does anyone have an E-body with a 426 hemi and TTI headers?  If so, how did you get an oil dip stick to fit behind the headers and work? 

[70chall440]

I don't personally have this combo although I do have a 426 Hemi and have been researching TTI headers. I have read a number of threads on other sites that mentioned having to bend the dipstick tube to clear the headers.

[mrwfp]

70Chall440 - Thank you for the response.  The problem that I have is that the engine that I bought has the oil dipstick hole threaded for 1/8 NPT.  A stock dipstick won't fit without some grinding and threading won't work as you can't get it threaded into the hole as the rest of the dipstick hits the block as it rotates.  I bought a Lokar flexible one and tapped the end to fit the hole.  It threads nicely but once the TTI header is placed on the driver's side, it pushes the flexible tube towards the block in such a way that the dipstick won't pass through the tube at the bottom. I tried using a stock dipstick in the Lokar flexible tube and it hangs up also at the bottom due to that very slight bend. I might have to dent the inside of that header so that it doesn't push against the tube but I really don't want to do that and was hoping for a better solution.

[70chall440]

I think I understand what you are saying but it is hard to visualize. Have you talked to TTI? I have a very different issue as my block was windowed at some point in its life and it took out where the dipstick would go, so I am going to put it on the passenger side coming out of the oil pan. Mopar had a interesting dipstick arrangement for pickups in which they tapped a hole into the oil pan, then ran a tube out which connected to another tube which was the dipstick tube (kind of hard to describe).

[mrwfp]

I finally figured out a way to make it work. I removed the bottom portion of the Lokar flexible dipstick assembly and slid the tube with the braided shielding into a 1/8 npt fuel hose fitting. When I first did that, there was still a clearance issue so I removed the fuel hose fitting and cut it in half so it was just long enough to slide on the Lokar tube and secure it with a small speed clamp. The extra 1/2" of space created by the shortened fuel fitting let the tube clear the back of the header and keep the dipstick tube from bending and binding the dipstick.

[70chall440]

Nice, if possible could you post some pics?

[mrwfp]

I did not take any pictures and unfortunately, this idea did not work out.  When we installed the header on the driver's side, the header knocked the dip stick tube off the brass fitting and boogered up the end of the plastic inner tube.  I have ordered a stock dip stick from Walmart ($13.51) and will try to bend its tube to fit behind the header.  If that does not work, I'll go back to that other idea, this time using a spare steel braided water line (from a sink - a lot cheaper than a braided steel flexible dip stick) with one end cut off. I should be able to slide the cut off end with its inner plastic tube over the cut down 1/8 NPT brass fuel fitting and secure it with a fuel line clamp or speed clamp. Since the header is already in place, it won't mess up the tube this time. If I end up doing that and I am successful, I'll take a picture from under the header and post it.

[70chall440]

Excellent idea, sorry the first thing didn't work out.

I am not sure you will be able to posit a picture here any more, seems that this site has some issues.