Oil Return tubes intall made easy

[jriera]

Hi all, as part of my engine drop/seal replacements I had to install a new set of oil return tubes. As many of you know while is not rocket science to install I think I found a very easy way to do it without any effort or unnecesary suffering.

The material requiered are a pair of 1" tube clamps and one set of clamps/spreaders from Quick-Grip, in my case this are a 12" ones because is what I had at home


Note at the bottom right of the picture the original shape of the 'moveable' clamp and in the middle (red rectangle) the modified one to accept the notch of the clamp, also note the position of the clamps..

Install one tube clamp at the end of each half of the oil return tubes leaving about 1/4" between the clamp and the big groove where the large seal is set, in this way the tube clamp will not interfere with the complete insertion of the seal in either the heads or the case.

Position the clamp as shown in the following picture:


(sorry I was to greasy to take any pictures while doing the 'real deal') and in two minutes or less you will have the return tube inside the grooves and ready for the circlip to be installed. It takes longer to install and remove the tube clamps than not to insert the oil return tubes!!!

Remember to oil (well) all the seals and to install the circlip in a way that you can reach him.

I did all of this WITHOUT the heat exchangers, don't know how easy, difficult or even feasible will be to do it with the exchangers in place so your milleage may vary.

Hope this helps to the next person changing the oil return tubes.

[Moses]

You mean you actually prefer this to crushing them with vise grips and tearing them apart?

[88911coupe]

Great Idea Jordi.
Hopefully I can help put the engine BACK IN.

[Randy Webb]

Note the "Clamp" is set up as a "spreader" - so I don't think he is crushing them. I think he is installing the new ones this way.

[Wil Ferch]

Plus..you can use an A/C gaitor spring in lieu of the circlip....another fast / easy / better way to avoid collapse of the two tubes, and also avoiding the hassle of the circlips.
---Wil Ferch

[bell]

i will tell you this will not work on the driverside with heat exchangers on
good idea though

[Randy Webb]

Will, what's an A/C gaitor spring? Does A/C mean air conditioning?

[Wil Ferch]

Gaitor spring is like a ring of coiled wire. Yes. ...Air conditioning. See the Pelican Tech atricle on this topic and look for the ammended responses from people. One of these guys did it that way..
--Wil