[Whaler]

I have to get the tube to seat back to it's original position. ( this will be my ground zero reference point) The outside shoulder on the tube is still half way out from being driven home in it's original pressed position

If I can achieve that, then the dipstick will be where its supposed to be sitting in relation to the tube.

Something interferes with the tube going in all the way...who knows maybe its a matter of using a little persuasion on it. I remember pulling it out with vicegrips and a hammer twisting and working it gently.

Now going back in (BTW the motor's now in the car), I have only really pushed it down to where I could by hand. No force used at all. The weird thing is that sitting out where it is and with only 1/2" of insertion, the tube's exhaust bolt anchor tab is perfectly lined up with the header bolt hole right now? Are the edelbrock aluminum heads I now have much different than the original stock cast iron heads it used to have ? I don't think so.

Further work to be done today, its a real PITA ( pain in the ---)

Thanks Perry