Not cool.

[trapper20]

Today I was working on my van and checked the oil, and noticed that the last two inches of the dipstick were gone. Broken right off. Metal bits on the drain plug magnet, so I drained the oil. We found a large piece in the pan by probing with a magnet, but not much else other than the one piece and the ground bits. We flushed the oil with a couple quarts of cheap stuff, then changed the oil and filter. We split the old filter, but didn't find any significant metal inside. When I drove it, I noticed a knock that had been there the day before, but I had assumed it was a belt noise as my P/S pump was going bad. Took the belt off, and the noise was still there. Rod knock. Apparently the crank grabbed the dipstick and tore a piece off, then ground it up, and maybe ruined a bearing in the process. Hopefully that is all it is. I will tear the front axle out and drop the pan and look around in there.

[a1towing]

That is awful I am sorry to hear that. I have never heard of anything like that happening/ My day is pretty much going the same way so I feel ya.

[paintdrying]

Simi;lair day as well

[Mr_Roboto]

Hope it's not an expensive proposition. Even what I did (almost free 305 short block, HGs and extras) cost me about $150-200 to install. It only goes up from there :/ If you can get away with bearings only you are a lucky, lucky fellow. If you have to go all the way apart and rebuild, I'd see how far the pistons are in the bore, then get the crank offset ground to close the quench some and/or get a good balance job done. Either that or just flip the long block on the stand, clean everything up and throw some new bearings in. Not my favorite idea but hey it's probably been done a few times. Just gotta try and make sure nothing went up which unfortunately is a real possibility.

[trapper20]

Good news. I took the oil pan off, and the oil tray in the pan had buckled upwards, and a couple rod bolts were hitting it. That is where the metal was coming from, and the remainder of the dipstick was sitting in the bottom of the pan. I replaced the pan as my welds were leaking, and this time I used a hammer to make it fit. I also used a one-piece gasket which was $30 at the LAPS. I will never use a 4 piece gasket again. Put it all back together, and the knock is gone.

[chevymaher]

Good news. Don't it just seem like the sun shining brighter the first time you drove it.

[Mr_Bowtie]

Its nice to finally hear someone get lucky around here for once!!!

[xit]

Very good news

[mervchapman]

I'll drink to that, very happy that it was something relatively inexpen$ive to sort out!

[footprintsinconc]

that is good news!