I'm doing a header install on my Firebird today and tomorrow. Right now I'm stuck with the dipstick tube. I can't get the sucker out. The only thing holding it in place it the small bracket on the 4th exhaust bolt back correct? Well I've pried the bracket off that stud and now I'm just pulling on it for all I'm worth and it absolutely won't budge. Is there anything else holding it in place? Is this common? Any suggestions?

 

Can't you just work around the dipstick tube with it inside the motor? That's what I ended up doing IIRC.

 

I was able to wiggle mine out. the only thing that hold it in is that bolt you mentioned. be careful though. once you get it out. Its a PITA to get it back in.

 

The exhaust bolt behind it would be pretty darn hard to get out with the dipstick tube still in the way. I have the bracket off the stud, but it is still sitting right there. Does the tube not have to run through the headers? Now that I'm thinking of it, it probably doesn't huh? When I installed long tubes on my SS I had to pull it out because it runs through the headers. I guess on shorties it may not. Honestly though I'm not seing how I can work around it in the car.

 

It will run between the tubes and the flange for sure.

 

Yeah it was tough figuring out exactly where to run it. I ended up leaving it in and it sucked. I had to cut off the bracket. Is that usually necessary? I'm using the Flowtech headers.

 

i ended cutting my bracket off. i should have fabbed it up to keep the mounting point. But its a little too late now...

 

SLP headers have a mount welded to the number 6 primary tube for the dipstick. I ended up buying a Lokar aftermarket one because the tube was cracked. Slid in and out with no problems.

 

I had left mine in, but then I grabbed the stock one, and squished it with vice grips, and I wound up replacing it with a chrome one instead, I took it out for while I'm putting in my long tube hooker's.

You could simplt turn it, but pulling it out, is some work since it's going into the block, it can be put back in, but make sure you clean the spot at the block where you put it in, then it will be fine. Are you using shorties, turbing it, should make enough room to leave it in, then just put a piece of wide, wood on top of the tube, and use a rubber mallet to press it back down, then you'll be good to go. The summit, flowtech, and dynomax headers are all made by the same company, I found this out before I bought the nickel chrome coated edelbrocks.

I used the edelbrocks on my Iroc-z, 350 motor, kicked butt,
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