I went to remove the old plastic dip stick tube from my '74 Midget the other day... and broke it off when it was half way out. The plastic was pretty brittle.
So I thought, "OK I'm out to refurb this thing, so let's just remove the oil pan, push the tube through, and redo the pan seals while I'm at it since I have a full set! PLUS I can paint it!"
I removed all the bolts (VERY lose, literally finger-tight), and then of course I discovered just how much Blue RTV the PO put on the pan. As in, the bolts are all out, but that pan could care less! Bolts... essentially cosmetic.
What seems to be the issue is whether any bits of plastic fell down into the oil pan, and if that would be an issue. The pan basically doesn't leak - it's a little messy but seems pretty solid. TOO solid of course, but solid. So no reason to remove it beyond checking for plastic bits.
So ...
Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Scenario 3
Scenario 4
Scenario 5
Thoughts? Undiscovered scenarios? Magic RTV solvents?
So I thought, "OK I'm out to refurb this thing, so let's just remove the oil pan, push the tube through, and redo the pan seals while I'm at it since I have a full set! PLUS I can paint it!"
I removed all the bolts (VERY lose, literally finger-tight), and then of course I discovered just how much Blue RTV the PO put on the pan. As in, the bolts are all out, but that pan could care less! Bolts... essentially cosmetic.
What seems to be the issue is whether any bits of plastic fell down into the oil pan, and if that would be an issue. The pan basically doesn't leak - it's a little messy but seems pretty solid. TOO solid of course, but solid. So no reason to remove it beyond checking for plastic bits.
So ...
Scenario 1
No bits fell in, I pull the dip stick tube out with a crochet hook (the spouse actually told me I could), and I leave the pan in place.
Scenario 2
Bits did fall in, leave the pan in place, and the bits just quietly turn into harmless powder.
Scenario 3
Bits fell in, I leave them, the engine gets ruined.
Scenario 4
I fight the RTV with the engine in. I cry a lot, take up drinking, have to sell Baby as-is to afford therapy.
Scenario 5
I remove the engine so I can get a putty knife in and get that pan off, which is fun (maybe) and I learn a lot (definitely) but I don't get this thing on the road this spring like I'd like to.
Thoughts? Undiscovered scenarios? Magic RTV solvents?