1972 Luxury Lemans

B

ballkiddy

New member
Joined
Sep 22, 2017
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Lufkin Texas
I just bought a pretty sweet Luxury Lemans with a 400 engine. Got it home and pulled the dipstick out only to discover that its broke about 5-6 inches down. No idea if the other piece is in there, but when it does lose some oil out of the top off the tube (I guess the top of the dipstick isn't seating all the way) which smokes when it hits the header. Will I need to remove the upper dipstick tube, or should I start fishing for the piece? and advice? its my first Pontiac and I'm real happy so far.
 
the piece is probably sitting in the bottom of the oil pan and will cause no damage unless you do some really unusual manuever to dislodge it. I've had the same thing happen to me, the dipstick was designed with holes in it which were the weak point where it cracked. Get a new dipstick, www.amesperf.com , has them in their GTO catalog. Next time you change the oil after adding the 6 quarts and starting it and letting it sit over night note where the oil level is on the new dipstick, it may not line up with the full mark.
 
By "unusual maneuver", do you mean like a loopty loop or something? Im not very mechanical, but could I drop the pan and get it out, or is that more than a project than im thinking?
 
I dont know your skill level, you could drop the pan but there is also the possiblitly that it broke when trying to put the dipstick in the tube and a previous owner discarded it so you would be wasting your time dropping the pan. Can you start by asking the person you purchased the car from? Yes, thats the kind of maneuver I had in mind, in normal driving it will just cling to the pan bottom if it is in there.
______________________________
 
The original owner is deceased, and the guy in between us just flipped the car to me. He didn't even know it was broke and I never pulled it when inspecting the car. It's been sitting for a little while. I'm thinking I'll just buy a new dipstick and roll out. Is it usual to lose oil out of the dipstick tube? That it would splash out on my header?
 
if the seal on the dipstick is shot it can happen. There are other things that can cause it also. Do you notice a lot of blue smoke when you start the car? Do you notice a lot of blue smoke when you rapdily accelerate? Is the PCV system hooked up including the breather tube on the passenger side valve cover going to the air clearner and the oil filler cap on the drivers side valve cover is sealed?
 
No smoke when I start it, but if you floor it, then there is noticeable blue smoke behind the car. Has a few drops in the garage floor, but I assumed it was from the dipstick tube. You have to really get in the accelerator for it to smoke, but that's the only time it does it.
 
what about my question concerning the PCV system and its components, the breather pipe and the sealed cap?
you are sure you dont have leaky valve cover gaskets dripping onto the headers?
______________________________
 
No pvc system. It has aftermarket valve covers and a mr gasket chrome thing in that hole. No oil on the top side of motor, it's super clean. But the dipstick has oil on it, and it kinda rattles around in the tube. Has some residue on the firewall passenger side.
 
your engine should have a functioning PCV system to handle crankcase gases otherwise they will blow out through valve cover breathers or the dip stick tube. There is no performance gain by removing the PCV.
 
It has a chrome catch can plugging the hole, but no lines or anything going anywhere. It looks like the oil is coming from the dipstick tube. We drove the car for and hour this afternoon with no smoke. Before we left, I made sure that the stick was pressed on the tube. I ordered a new stick from the website you suggested. I don't think I'm going to go fishing for the broke stick, dropping the pan looks to be difficult from what I read.
 
1972 lemans

I think this is what they may call a "catch can"? Looks like a little breather on the passenger side valve cover. The oil has got to be coming from the tube. The "handle" on the stick has oil on it. We drove the car for an hour or so yesterday, but I made sure that the stick was firmly mashed on the tube before we left, and there was no smoke or oil residue when we got back. I ordered a new stick from the website you posted. I don't think I'm going to try and drop the pan. That sounds like more than I need to try based on what I'm reading. Everything I read recommends pulling the engine?
______________________________
 

Attachments

  • Lemans.JPG
    Lemans.JPG
    76.4 KB · Views: 42
Car looks like it's in great condition. Can you post a picture of the front upper section of the engine, the area right in front of the carburetor, in order to see if the PCV valve is installed?
 
72 lemans

here are some photos.
 

Attachments

  • lemans1.JPG
    lemans1.JPG
    134.5 KB · Views: 52
  • lemans2.JPG
    lemans2.JPG
    122.8 KB · Views: 50
  • lemans3.JPG
    lemans3.JPG
    118.8 KB · Views: 49
Well the PCV is there and it looks like you have a closed oil filler cap on the drivers side valve cover so if you have a breather on the passenger side valve cover you have a functioning PCV system.
On you list of things to do replace the plastic fuel filter with a metal one.
Your interior is the same color as mine.
 
I bought a set of accel 8mm plug wires today. I was thinking I'd change the plugs and wires. But the boots on the distributor end are too small. Is there a certain type of plug I need to look for? It has 7mm wires currently, and some super crusty plugs. I replaced them with some E03 plugs, all except the one closest to the steering wheel. The steering shaft is in my way so I need a smaller wrench. Any advice is appreciated.
______________________________
 
The stock ignition is points and the largest wire set would be the 7MM. Try a universal joint with the plug socket. I guess you meant E3 plugs?
 
I got the plugs and wires changed. I also got my new dipstick in, and it fit in there great. But when I cranked the car, it was making a tapping noise. the cranks was hitting the dipstick, so I pulled it out and stuck the broken one back. Can I cut an inch off the bottom of the stick? The previous owner removed the AC, so its the shorter stick down by the header. but its too long I suppose.
 
An AC equipped car is supposed to have an upper dipstick tube. Look in the GTO catalog from www.amesperf.com part# N306 or N306DB. I also dont know whether you have the correct dipstick.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top