So here's the deal... In my attempt to take the dipstick tube off of my 5.3 block (so I could remove the truck exhaust manifolds) I broke the damn thing off in the block. When I got the engine it came with the f-body pan, pick up tube, tray, and what I'm guessing to be the f-body dipstick tube already installed. Now there is a tube sticking out of the bottom of the block and it wont come out. What should I do next? Drill it out or ???

My plan is to install a Lokar black stainless tube as a replacement and I just don't want to mess up the hole in the block before I install this.

 

Will it twist in the hole or is it totally frozen in place?

 

As far as I can tell it is totally frozen in place. I have removed them before and once the bolt was removed and it was turned a little it came right out. This one I did that and the tube snapped off in my hand. I dropped the pan and tried to tap it out from the bottom up and all that did was start to "mushroom" the end of the tube.

I am a newbie to ls engines and wasn't sure if I did something wrong and now I don't want mess this up any further.

 

Grab the tip with some pliers and wobble it back and fourth until it breaks free. It might take a few more whacks with the hammer. Once its loose, use a cutoff wheel to remove the mushroom head and pull the remainder out

 

This thing refuses to come out... What am I doing wrong here?

Hit it with a hammer and nothing but mushroom




The tube and where it broke off.

 

Straiten it back out and hit it harder, itll come out. Stick a long thin bolt inside to keep it strait while whopping it if needed. I had one that absolutely refused to come out even with heat. Ended up driving an easy out in and twisting it to free it