Weird Dipstickage Well I can tel lyou whats its NOT Its not going to be a Z31 since you can fit the DE head onto the VG30E block (unfortunately for all those Z31ers out there). Pathfinder uses a slightly different engine but its essentially still a VG30E so I'd say the same goes for that head/block combo. I'd say the Maxima is the most likely candidate. I've heard of people useing the blocks from the old maximas (SOHC ones, VG30E) for rebuilding Z31 motors. I'd guess that the newer Maximas using the VG30DE would be able to provide a compatible donor block. But I cant really back that up Just guessing
Sounds like the crankshaft is hitting the end of the non standard dipstick and it may even have torn the bottom section off it. Not good to have a lump of metal and frayed cable bouncing around in your sump!
Dipstick finders Mate, forget about metal filings in your crank case oil Inwhich case you use this fine stuff OR having gear clips in your gearbox In which case use use these clip finders You need to latch hold and keep hold of 2 bits of dipstick - so use these Dip stick holders What you DO NOT want to do is pull your crankshaft down into the Tarmac with these A liitle TOO much seriously they are far better than those wussy sump plug thingys, and if you just attach them onto the side of the oil filter [or in the clip and dip stick cases - to the dottom or low side of the respective sumps], and with the hooks you can easily use them again on the next oil filter - does a great job !! any of them - except the 200LB jobs - should find and hold the metal bits in the crank case, and keep them away from bearings etc until you can get the whole engine opened up again. This is a serious post you know !
