Jan 2006
Rebuilt engine / forgotten oil gallery plug in rear of engine
Don't forget - you have to remove the distributor to see where the plug
may have been left out. The plug in question is in the front of the
distributor "silo" into which the the distributor is lowered. The plug
screws in to the oil gallery with a 3/8"-square drive ratchet and
extensions.BP
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Bob, well my worst fears are confirmed. The plug is out. Got the engine
started. 25 lbs cold, 10 to 15 lbs warm. Took a valve cover off, almost
dry. Took the distributor out, used a better drill and a solid stream
of oil came out the plug hole about four inches into the dist. silo, at
the front of the engine, Used baling wire to probe the hole, no plug.
Stupid machine shop, stupid me for not checking. Engine is installed.
Is there any way to get the plug in through the dist. hole? What size
and threads are the plug? Any suggestions besides Hari Kari?
Thanks,
Kelly J. Marion
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Kelly:
There's no need to be upset; engines operated like that are rarely
damaged because they DID HAVE oil pressure, just not enough. I'm sure
you didn't go out and drive it at high speed or anything, so most likely
NO damage has been done.
That's the good news.
The bad news is that I don't know any way of wiggling a plug into that hole
and being able to screw it in place without removing the bellhousing from
the engine so you have a "straight shot" into the plug hole. The plug itself
is a standard pipe thread, but I'm not sure of the dimensions. Probably 1/2"
pipe, maybe bigger.
Once you have removed the bellhousing, you will see a corresponding pipe
plug on the rear of the engine block on the OTHER side of the engine. You
can easily remove that pipe plug to get the right dimension for the one that's
missing...or go back to the machine shop and ask if them if they "have any
parts left over." Ha! Like they would admit it. Finally, on the BACKside of
the distributor silo, there will be what looks like a simple freeze plug in
place that must be pried out to access the distributor silo so you can insert
the plug through the silo, so to speak. That "freeze plug" just serves to
keep dirt and water from inside the distributor silo when the bellhousning is
bolted back on the engine. Be sure to replace that freeze plug (really an
access plug) after you've installed the missing oil gallery plug.
Cheers. Bob.
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Thanks Bob. I'm sick about this. It looks to be a 3/8ths plug, I'm
checking the chassis manual tonight to see if there is a listing. I can
see the hole, that is what is frustrating. I guess dropping the tranny,
removing the flywheel and stuff and then removing the welch plug
(freeze type plug) must be the only logical way of doing this short of
pulling the engine. I have all sorts of junker engines. I'll pull one
of those plugs. Again, Thanks for all the help you always selflessly
offer. Surgeons do much more complicated things in a smaller space, but
hey, I'm not a surgeon (I feel more like a butcher right now).
KM
ADDENDUM---
A small 90 degree angled square drive, driver is available. It's
driven by a female drive on the long end. Any 1/4" drive socket will
fit on it. The allen part of the socket will need to be shortened.
Just put the pipe plug on the allen socket and insert it into the
distr. well. Turn by hand and finish with a 1/4" drive ratchet.
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Feb 2006
Installing a forgotten oil gallery plug in distributor hole after engine in car
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Bought a wrench from J.C. Whitney called the side winder in 1/4".
Bought a small, round mirror that would go down the distributor hole.
Had a powerful flashlight. Bought 4 5/16ths, long handled hex wrenches.
Heated the hex wrenches and bent the short end of the 90 degree angle,
so I changed the position of the hex by about 10 to 15 degrees, then 15
to 20 degrees, then 20 to 25, then about 30 degrees roatation from the
original position.
Put the mirror into the hole, positioned the light to reflect some from the mirror onto
the hole in the front of the distributor hole about 4 1/2" deep. Put a drop of superglue onto the square hex of the wrench and put the square into the hex hole, not
enough fore and aft room for the wrench plus a hex socket.
The square into hex is a tight fit.
Stuffed a rag into the hole effectively stopping anything from dropping in below the level of the galley hole.
Started the hex in the hole with some red lock tight.
To much to try to turn the sidewinder from the handle after it started to tighten.
Broke it free from the hex plug and used the bent hex wrenches to get a few degrees of turn.
Then the next bent hex, then the next until good and tight.
Removed the rag, voila! 60 lbs oil pressure cold, 40 hot and at idle.
KM
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click for larger image (Image- courtesy of "Alan", SDF Forum, Feb 2009
"Looking at the back of the engine, it is on the left side of the cam about 1 1/2" inches behind the 1.25" freeze plug. Looking down the dist. hole it is on the drivers side. It is a 1/4" taper pipe plug."
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