I'm trying to put my 350 back together. Brodix 200cc alum heads suggest Fel-Pro 1003. I'm uncomfortable drilling into my block, but I did yesterday. I drilled a 5/16 hole, not 7/16. Got one side done, but lost the drill bit in the passage. It broke off!! I tried to fish it out with a magnet, almost got it. But if I can't get it out, is it okay if I leave it in? It's a big piece, close to 3" long. I'm thinking of reaming the hole a little bigger to get it out easier. Any suggestions?

The block is in the car, and this is why a machine shop didn't do it. I didn't realize these new world thinking type gasket companies make it to where you have to drill holes in the block to accomodate their gaskets. Never did this before. And this is my first build, so I need some help.

 

Is this what you were doing: http://www.brodix.com/instructions/i...hevy_heads.pdf ? If so, why? Leaving the bit tip in the block's water jacket isn't anything to lose sleep over.

 

Where is the hole you drilled & what is at the other end? Water passage? Coolant passage? Oil valley? And what requires a 3" deep hole to be drilled?

 

I think he read the instructions incorrectly and drilled a steam hole in his 350 block, there are none and are not supposed to be any either. 400s have siamesed middle cylinders and as such have steam holes and you need to drill them in the heads if they don't come with them. There is no reason ever to drill holes in a block deck.

 

Fel-Pro directions for this between 3 & 5 cylinders and 4 & 6 cylinders. Gasket used as template.

Water passage at the other end...it fell down there. I can lift it up with a small magnet, just can't get it through the hole I drilled. It's not a 3" deep hole, that just where the bit broke off. It's probably 2" broken off in there. The hole to be drilled is not that deep....my bit just got tweaked and broke off.

 

Directions are for 350, but they added directions for 400 blocks for steam holes.

Fel Pro restricted some holes to help flow through this new hole to keep the center of the heads cooler.

 

I compared the gasket to my heads, and there are holes there. they are the Brodix IK 200cc heads.

Fel-Pro told me these holes are to be drilled into all blocks, not just the 400's.

Machinest tole me today that the holes are okay and will allow for extra cooling.

Now the problem is still trying to fish that drill bit out of that small hole I drilled. Can I take a freeze plug out and get to it easier??

 

I would think taking a freeze plug out would be the only way to retrieve it.