Alright so I’ve got a jet star 88 4 door holiday sedan. I believe the engine is the original 394 but it has been worked on for years by shade tree mechanics. When I bought the car 2 years ago, the wire popped off the alternator and fried that line completely so. It has sat for an additional two years. Now I’ve fixed the wire and want to change all the fluids before I try to start it again. THE ISSUE: I noticed that the dipstick tube should be going through the exhaust manifold on the driver side however, it doesn’t. It goes just behind it and I cannot get the dipstick in to it. How can I get it back in the right spot and not have to destroy the engine. I’m not very mechanically inclined so I don’t really know what I’m doing.

 

You are missing the dipstick tube. They at least removed the broken tube. Hopefully replacement ones are available.

 

so the dipstick tube is right beside the dipstick as seen best in the first picture. It’s there it’s just not in the right position and I’m not sure how to move it

 

It is there, my bad, probably crimped inside, that is pulled back a long way. I carefully pulled the tube back on my Dakota, I bent it changing iron heads in vehicle, which sucks, the dipstick is right in front. The tube wouldn't go in either, just slowly pulling it back to the right position allowed me to check oil again. To remove the dipstick tube you probably have to remove the pan, they usually won't come out from the top without breaking. Good luck.

 

FYI a 64 Jetstar 88 would have a 330 engine.

 

Look how close the dipstick tube is to the bat terminal on the solenoid! That fire is hard to put out

 

The only way to do that is to remove the exhaust manifold and move the tube to where it belongs. Be prepared for the chance that it will break and need to be replaced.