This is the back of a reman 350 engine for my Firebird Formula. There is a threaded hole near where the distributor goes in. Now, the old engine had a plug in that small hole. You could take it out with an open end wrench. However my friends 88 GTA has something there, but I cant tell what it is. I don't think its an oil sending unit on his car. Mine is on the bottom near the oil filter. Whatever is near his distributor has an electrical plug going into it whatever it is. Any thoughts?

 

That's an oil galley. Plug it or you'll have an oil fountain when you prime it.

 

Depending on the motor, there would be a oil pressure switch in that hole in the picture. The switch is normally open and closes when it sees oil pressure.

 

being an 89 350 tpi that's plugged as the oil, pressure switch and sender for the gauges are 1 unit, 3 wire type above the oil filter. Your friend has a divorced setup, a can type oil pressure switch there with a single wire and a pressure sender for the gauge above the oil filter.

This is the unit:

 

Am I safe to assume a 89 305/TPI car would be the same?
I have an 86 engine going in and been looking for that connector near the top of the intake, but this would explain why it may not be there.
Thanks

 

Yes, my 89 TPI has the sensor near the oil filter and a small, square head plug threaded into the galley hole behind the intake.

 

ok, Thanks

 

This the engine so far.... although he had to swap the valve covers as they were on backwards.