I am putting in the oil dipstick on a small black 350 and I am having trouble. I know that this is usally not an easy part to put on, but I was wondering if any one had any tips to make to job easier. I was think of gronding down that end of the tube and possably making a small cut on the tube to ease the area which has to fit into the hole on the block. Please let me know if either one of these would work or if there is another way. Thank you.

I've really never had a problem getting one on.
Trying to grind on the end or cutting the tube to make it easier to insert will usually lead to the tube becoming loose in use and not staying put after a short time.
Maybe putting it in the freezer for a couple hours will srink it enough it would go in easier?
I made a tool years ago to help out on rebuilds, but you can use a crowsfoot socket and a long extension with good results if you want. An alternate is to use a flat-ended punch on the base flange to drive it in with a hammer. Be care full not to deform the base while driving or the tube may break off there. You can sometimes just put a small bolt that will fit in the end of the tube and then drive it in with slight hammer blows - this works well on Furds ...

Hope this helps;
John

Assuming this is drivers side, I've grabbed it just above the "swelling" with a vise grips, and used a punch and hammer against the visegrips to beat it in.
You are lucky to have a tight one!

I have a drivers side that I just hit the top with a hammer :) . Those dipsticks are snug as heck in there, it shouldn't come out what so ever.

Buddy had similar problem and found out it was a block from an 80something Van and it takes a "special" dipstick tube.

If the block is still out of the car and unpainted, you can heat around the dipstick hole CAREFULLY with a torch and it will expand slightly, making it easy to insert the tube.

I recently had the same problem when I replaced the old dipstick tube with a chrome Mr. Gasket. To get it to fit nicely I had to knock of the chrome with my sander. Sand it very lightly while spinning the tube to make sure it stays round. A dab of gasket sealer will make it go on real smooth.

i just put one in tapping on a wood block on top of the tube with a ball hammer, ever so slightly changing angle to get it in straight, 20 little taps, and down to the neck

If it is a straight tube and dipstick set-up, you should not have a problem with a block of wood and hammer as 377 suggested.

If it a curved set-up, crowsfoot wrench or vise grips, and hammer those. It could be also the end of your tube maybe expanded alittle too much when cut with tubing cutters.

Did you check to make sure the old one wasn't broken off in the hole?

Ditto on the previous post, most chrome dipstick tubes don't fit. I've given up on them and only use original tubes.