And that time is not coming. I think this car is trashed. I tried the tool and got it very snug. Pried and hammered the dipstick tube without movement. After a little while, the tool popped out of the tube; and now it won't thread in. Even if I get the car towed to the mechanic; I think they will have a very hard time getting what remains of that tube out of the block. It's almost like it's welded in there. I don't even think dropping the pan would do anything; as hammering from the bottom (if it can be done) probably won't get it to move. I have no idea how the worker at the plant that this engine came from got that dipstick in there.

 

I'm pretty sure that if you drop that pan and get a good look at it, that you can punch that sum beech out with a good drift pin.

 

It's going to the mechanic. After I stopped freaking out and throwing tools across the yard; I called my mechanic and told him about the dilemma. He sighed and said to bring it in on Tuesday. So I drained the oil and flushed the dipstick tube with WD-40 to flush out anything that might have fallen in there. I shoved paper towels in the dipstick tube and put the header back up; semi-permanent. I was going to start putting up the exhaust, but the bolts that came with the Flowmaster collectors are too short. So I will make a trip to Home Depot and get something temporary until I can find grade 8 stainless bolts of the proper length. Just gonna wait for this storm to end and begin putting up the rest of the exhaust.

 

All throwing tools across the yard ever got me was damaged lawnmower blades and lost tools. Get control of your temper and let your mechanic have a go at it.

 

Yah; I'm still working on that; even in my older age. At least I don't cuss anymore. That just gets my Dad angry and I am resolved to not raise his blood pressure. As for the tools; I will find them when I rake again next weekend. Still haven't found the Speedway AN fittings I tossed out there 16 years ago. That was back when I was learning how to put AN hose and fittings together.

But I digress. I got the car piped back to the X-pipe. Spent a good amount of time getting the exhaust the same length on each side. My not-so-straight edge said I was 1/16" off; so I am going with that. Evening crept in fast and I had to call it quits when I realized that I hadn't eaten anything all day. When I crawled out from underneath the car, my legs were jello. After I made myself a late lunch; I felt a bit better; so I flanged the X-pipe in the basement and will put it up tomorrow if I get back early enough.

 

Unfortunately, it's that time of year when evening comes all too early. I wish they'd quit screwing with time changes and just leave it alone. Studies have shown that it doesn't save energy like they've always claimed. 1/16th of an inch is definitely something to be proud of on that exhaust project. If you're having it welded, it's not going to make any difference.

 

Right now I have a bunch of clamps holding it together. I have to find a place that will weld some of the looser connections. My Dad said a 1/16" difference is acceptable (he was a pipe fitter by trade, among other things) and it should make putting up the rest of the exhaust easier. I will see how long this rain lasts. I failed to watch the news the last few days and I didn't know that we would have more rain after the tropical storm passed through. Oh well; I'll try to get to work early and leave early tomorrow.

 

Pipefitting runs in my family. Dad and two uncles, one brother, a multitude of cousins and myself were all members of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 572 out of Nashville.

 

It's a trade that I will never master; as the evidence (my hacked exhaust systems) proves *sigh*

One side of the driveway drained enough for me to get under and put the EGR tube in place. That was an annoyance that took 20 minutes to accomplish. My hands were freezing and it was dark; so I jacked the rear of the car up and went in for the night. Good thing is that my body is still in Spring forward mode; so I woke up early and went into work. Hopefully I will get out of here in a likewise fashion so I can get home and put the mufflers up. I'll probably temporarily hang the exhaust with coat hangers so I can get it to the gas station tomorrow morning.

 

Please take a picture of the underside so that we may use this as a reference photograph for when this is complete