Any good tricks for getting the dipstick out of a block..preferably without destroying it? It seems to be rusted in there pretty good... I have the block completely torn down. Thanks

 

Its press fit int the block, mine came out fairly easily with a bit of coaxing. If yours is tight you might want to try a little bit of localized heat on the block, and a pliers, that wont crush the tube(curved jaw).

 

I got under the lttle lip with a screw driver and tapped it out with a hammer.

 

If you have the block completely torn down, you should be able to tap it out from the bottom. To answer the more general question, the only method I've found to reliably get the tube out without damage is to use a slide hammer. I fabricated a piece that screws into the end of my slide hammer and just fits into the upper end of the tube. I clamp it in place with a vice grip pliers on the outside of the tube and use the slide hammer to extract the tube. 100% success to date with no damage.

 

great suggestions, thanks!...I think I'll try the slide hammer idea first