1997 vortec V8

Are you sure that's the problem? What about the dipstick tube, did he or you happen to kink it a bit? You could just pull the pan off, if in fact it's the windage tray that's the problem. No need to pull the engine back out.

Ian

Why "don't you think so"? Have you never run into this before? I have....many times. It's not necessarily the problem, but it's certainly more common then the dipstick hitting the windage tray.

Then I guess you "fix it"! "Relocate" it back to where it was.

Ian

Sell it and buy a FORD! :)

so what your saying is the dipstick tube just might be in to far? i didn't mean to say you hadn't run into it before but i said i didn't think so cause i haven't checked eveything cause i thought it was something else

No, I'm just guessing that it's a possibility that someone may have bent the tube a bit, which can make the dipstick hard or impossible to put in all the way.

If you think there is nothing wrong with the dipstick tube, then I would suggest that you fix the item you know was changed.. ie: the windage tray and it's position.

Ian