454 big block gurus

[scrappyk5]

I do not have a pic at this time, maybe someone will know what I am talking about without a pic. " cough 4x4high cough ". anyways, I bought a 454 bigblock complete from fan blade to flywheel, taken out of a 1985 mobile home. heres the question, down at the bottom of the block on the driverside just above the oil pan all the way in the front corner , there is a hole about 1/4 round in size with a brass insert that is not threaded and looks to go all the way inside the block. what the heck plugged in here and how did it seal if not threaded ? it looks very clean as if something was plugged in there. anyone know ?. I can get a pic but not till monday.

thanks for any info.

 

[nvrenuf]

I don't know what's in it now but it's a port you can use for oil pressure. I've had 4 454's over the years and they've all had a female, square drive plug there.

 

[scrappyk5]

well there is nothing in the hole now. its also round and not square. its smooth going inside of it, how does something seal when plugged in ?

 

[76zimmer]

Is this the one your talking about?




That is the main oil galley that runs the length of the block from the oil filter galley.​

 

[dremu]

well there is nothing in the hole now. its also round and not square. its smooth going inside of it, how does something seal when plugged in ?

Nvrenuf meant a pipe plug, round and threaded but with a square embedded inside, as in the second from the right:

Now, if it's not threaded, it almost sounds like a press-fit freeze plug. Be great if you could post a pic...

-- A

 

[scrappyk5]

not that one but the one next to it on the side of the block. move your arrow to the left about an inch.

 

[scrappyk5]

Nvrenuf meant a pipe plug, round and threaded but with a square embedded inside, as in the second from the right:

Now, if it's not threaded, it almost sounds like a press-fit freeze plug. Be great if you could post a pic...

-- A

I know, a picture is worth a thousand, which I can post on monday, just seeing if anyone knew now. And the hole is not threaded. its smooth and brass.

 

[nvrenuf]

not that one but the one next to it on the side of the block. move your arrow to the left about an inch.

Check it again, it should be threaded. I have a oil pressure sending unit in the hole you're talking about.

 

[scrappyk5]

Check it again, it should be threaded. I have a oil pressure sending unit in the hole you're talking about.

I am pretty positive that hole is not threaded. that is why I am curious how to plug it. the engine has an oil switch screwed into the block right above the oil filter.

 

[76zimmer]

mine is threaded also:

 

[scrappyk5]

mine is threaded also:

I see that. Mine looks like about a 5/16" hole with a brass type fitting pressed into the block, or maybe its threaded. it has a 1/4 hole in the center of it. ( i am guessing on the sizes )

 

[nvrenuf]

Take a pick and dig around in it, it may turn out to be a female pipe plug (which could be brass) like Dremu posted a pic of.

 

[Vetteracerx]

Could be a broken male fitting? That would explain the lack of threads.

 

[4X4HIGH]

What you're describing is the main oil galley that runs down the side of the block and there is a NPT thread at the front of the block and about 4 down the side just above the oil pan rail. The plug in the front is a 1/4" NPT plug with an internal hex and the ones down the side are 1/8" NPT with a square external head. Sometimes on the front plug the hex will strip and on the side the square breaks off when someone tries to remove them. In your case if there is a hole through the center of the plug then it sounds like the square head broke off when it was being removed and then someone drilled a hole through it in order to use an extractor but never got around to actually removing the plug or couldn't get it out. I would first try a SQUARE style extractor and if it doesn't come right out use a little heat then try again.

 

[scrappyk5]

What you're describing is the main oil galley that runs down the side of the block and there is a NPT thread at the front of the block and about 4 down the side just above the oil pan rail. The plug in the front is a 1/4" NPT plug with an internal hex and the ones down the side are 1/8" NPT with a square external head. Sometimes on the front plug the hex will strip and on the side the square breaks off when someone tries to remove them. In your case if there is a hole through the center of the plug then it sounds like the square head broke off when it was being removed and then someone drilled a hole through it in order to use an extractor but never got around to actually removing the plug or couldn't get it out. I would first try a SQUARE style extractor and if it doesn't come right out use a little heat then try again.

Here are the pics.
The first two pics are of the hole in question:

this pic is what is installed in the rest of the holes down the side of the block

So I assume, that either something was plugged in the hole or like 4x4high said, someone must have drilled it out. I am thinking something was plugged in the hole. Either way, I need to remove the rest of the brass insert, and install a plug, or I can tap the hole with the brass insert with a 5/16 tap and put a short 5/16 bolt in it with some sealant on it. whats the opinion of the audience ?

 

[4X4HIGH]

That is a brass NPT plug that someone drilled and never got around to removing. It should come out easy using a SQUARE style ez-out extractor. I say square because they aren't as brittle as the twisted type and also the twisted type get tighter as you try to remove them which also puts pressure on the threads making it harder to remove.

 

[scrappyk5]

That is a brass NPT plug that someone drilled and never got around to removing. It should come out easy using a SQUARE style ez-out extractor. I say square because they aren't as brittle as the twisted type and also the twisted type get tighter as you try to remove them which also puts pressure on the threads making it harder to remove.

Ok, will do. I wonder why someone would drill it out. I bought it just after it was removed from an rv. I was going to pull the oil pan and replace the gasket, better make sure there is no junk in there.
Hey Scott, is a 454 from 1985 a 1 pc real seal or 2 pc ?

Thanks again,
Mike

 

[nvrenuf]

2 piece rear seal.

 

[76zimmer]

yep 2 piece, I think the 1 piece started in 90 or 91.

 

[wasted wages]

I wonder why someone would drill it out.

looks to me like a brass fitting that got snapped off in the block.....

as Scott said... a square easy out should make quick work of removing it...


If the hole it's threaded into is not a oil galley fitting ( IE: not under oil pressure ) and just goes into the inside of the block,,,It may have been a return line from a cheap aftermarket oil cooler or something...