Riverbirch1962
New member
Hello all,
First time poster here with limit experience on inboard engines. I have a Chevy 350 5.7L fresh water cooled full inboard sitting in an older Chris Craft center console. The engine was rebuilt by the previous owner and has run great the last couple of years.
Went to check the oil this past weekend and in hopes of pulling the boat out to winterize, reinserted dipstick and when I did, there was a tapping noise and a vibration on the dipstick. Shut her down and was then unable to remove the dipstick. Realizing then what had happened (and not really being able to believe it) I was able to get the dipstick out without the last 4 inches which I believe is now sitting at the bottom of my oil pan. Apparently, the dipstick got re-directed and was conflicting with the crankshaft, which severed the last 4 inches of the dipstick.
Question I have now are:
Are there any possible alternatives to pulling the engine and dropping the oil pan to remove the broken off part of the dipstick?
Can I run the boat - even at low RPM to get it out of the water and winterized?
The oil pan drain bolt is located, unfortunately, on the bottom of the oil pan which only gives me an inch of clearance between bottom of engine compartment and bottom of pan - a tight squeeze to say the least?
Any and all ideas, suggestions and recommendations are welcomed - thanks
First time poster here with limit experience on inboard engines. I have a Chevy 350 5.7L fresh water cooled full inboard sitting in an older Chris Craft center console. The engine was rebuilt by the previous owner and has run great the last couple of years.
Went to check the oil this past weekend and in hopes of pulling the boat out to winterize, reinserted dipstick and when I did, there was a tapping noise and a vibration on the dipstick. Shut her down and was then unable to remove the dipstick. Realizing then what had happened (and not really being able to believe it) I was able to get the dipstick out without the last 4 inches which I believe is now sitting at the bottom of my oil pan. Apparently, the dipstick got re-directed and was conflicting with the crankshaft, which severed the last 4 inches of the dipstick.
Question I have now are:
Are there any possible alternatives to pulling the engine and dropping the oil pan to remove the broken off part of the dipstick?
Can I run the boat - even at low RPM to get it out of the water and winterized?
The oil pan drain bolt is located, unfortunately, on the bottom of the oil pan which only gives me an inch of clearance between bottom of engine compartment and bottom of pan - a tight squeeze to say the least?
Any and all ideas, suggestions and recommendations are welcomed - thanks