So, I was removing my freeze plugs, and the rear two on the sides of the block don't have as much room behind the plugs to move around, making them.... annoying...
Anyway, the back right one I think it was, I hammered it into the block, then was trying to get my channel locks on it to yank it out, and "clink", it dropped. ok, so I was hammering on it with a screwdriver, and friggen took off somewhere in there.

Usually I can just fish it out with my magnet, but this one.... It went towards the back of the block somewhere...? I spun the motor around on the stand a few times, and didn't get any flopping around sounds.

I'm slightly leery about leaving it in there ... Is there another solution that i'm not thinking about?
Thanks

 

It's in there somewhere. You might have to improvise a tool of some kind to fish it out.

 

Can you reach with a set of forceps?

 

Coat hanger?

Not sure about SBC. With a head off can you look down into the coolant passages on the top of the deck to see it?

 

Use some air pressure.. or water pressure with a garden hose? It needs to come out.

 

hmm, alright, I guess I knew I couldn't leave it in there.. I'll fish around down there with some other tools then...

 

stephen got it this time ! I couldn't get my telescoping magnet to bend around cylinder #8 I think it was, but I could push a screw driver through a head bolt hole, and push it up to where I could get it with my magnet.
**Note, I WILL be sure to put sealer on the head bolts**. Lot of things you learn when having a motor this naked...

Anyway, that last one was nasty to remove, needed a snipe on the channel locks it was so mangled... But since we're on the topic of block plugs:

I ran a 1/4"NPT tap through my front 1/2" galley plug holes. I eyeballed through the hole, and it looks like the 1/2" hole is too big for the tap to do anything, until ~1/2" deep, then it'll engage. I guess the hole tapers down a bit. Just wanted to make sure, there's no problem tapping this fairly deep? I mean, the plugs will be recessed in the holes, and will sit deeper than the original plugs. They're not going to interfere with an oil channel which intersects this hole?

Just a little gunshy this time.

Thanks

 

You'll have to check to make sure that you're not blocking the oil passages.

 

Is it a 1/4" pipe thread hole or a 3/8" pipe thread hole?

 

It won't be any pipe thread yet I don't think.

 

?

The hole in the block was 1/2", but it tapers down to 3/8" from what i've heard. The tap size for a 1/4"NPT tap is 7/16". I ran a 1/4"NPT tap in ways, but I need to go further, I only have 3 threads maybe. Is that what you were asking?

 

For the 2 holes to the sides of the cam, the plug can go in until it hits the front-most lifter. Also, drill a hole about .020" or so (#70 drill bit is good) in each of those 2 plugs, for timing chain oiling.

For the hole above the cam, look inside there, and observe the vertical hole that feeds downward to the cam bearing. That hole also feeds the front main bearing and the #1 rod bearing. The plug MUST NOT obstruct that hole. Don't drill this plug.

 

deal! thank you.