Fixing the dipstick tube holder

[Frank Miller]

I have my pan off because this was leaking. I had repaired it once before and used stainless pop rivets. After disassembling I sanded the aluminum piece on the drill press table until it was flat. I then checked the pan for low or high spots with sandpaper and a block.
Now to find a good way to reattach it with a gasket I made. I went to the hardware and got some #10 button head allen bolts and lock nuts as well as flat washers. After getting it all assembled with gasket sealer my dad says, hey these would work. He had a bag of #10 stainless bolts with a rivet head. These are used to repair Model A headlights where the steel rivets rust underneath. I think they come in a package of 12 with star washered nuts. You only need three. It would be great if the vendors made a kit for this. All they need to do is buy a bunch, make some gaskets and sell a repair kit.
This is an 8BA so I'm not sure what else it fits. This should be serviced when rebuilding an engine or replacing a pan.

[51 MERC-CT]

Should get the job done.
This is a different route to get the same result (don't have to remove pan to access removal at a later date) Nuts can be tack welded to the pan also.

[flatjack9]

I cut a piece of steel to mirror the tube holder. Drill and tap for the 3 holes. Tack weld it inside the pan and bolt the holder to the pan with the gasket. If you ever need to work on it again, you can unbolt it without dropping anything in the pan.

[Frank Miller]

Sort of the quick fix. I was going after the original look. Don'y know why that should matter but to me it does.

[TomT/Williamsburg]

I did something similar with stainless bolts, home made larger washers with small holes and lock nuts. There’s more than we be way to skin a cat!

[Frank Miller]

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Third Gen automotive makes a kit for this doing exactly what I did.

[rotorwrench]

If you want a rivet look, you can use any round head 10-32 screw and fill the cross recess or slot with polyester filler or a sealant and paint over it after. I use MS21042-3 lock nuts on the inside for their small profile. They are tight enough that they won't come loose. Just don't tighten it so tight that it deforms the tube boss.
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...SABEgKpL_D_BwE