The threaded pipe plug with the hole in it at the back of the engine that oils the distributor gear in my 455 was frozen in place and the machine shop had to drill it out to remove it. It has pipe threads, has anyone just taken a pipe plug with the square drive and drilled a hole in it to replace rather the buying one one line. If so what size pipe plug and how big is the hole that I need to drill

Thanks in advance

 

If I remember right it's a 1/4 npt or 3/8 npt pipe plug. Cheap enough to buy both at a hardware store. Hole is .030-.040. Basically the same size hole as in the front plug for the timing chain.

 

Thanks,

Just can't see paying 10 bucks plus shipping for something so simple

 

I picked up a long block cheap that had the plug with the hole in the wrong side. I can't imagine how pissed that guy must have been. Probably thought he had the worst rear main leak in history, lol.

 

you need to use an automotive type pipe plug.it has to sit flush or close to it or it will hit the dist. gear. std hardware store stuff is made for plumming. don't ask me how i know. 3/8 pipe thead

 

I don't remember hole size either, but it is important not to use too big a hole. Also, be sure not to use a hardened plug as a .030" or so drill bit breaks very easily. After I dig out of the snow and temp gets over zero I can check.

 

I run a larger hole in mine to help lube the cam gear & bronze distributor gear,which is common with the solid roller set-ups.I've seen some bronze gears wear prematurely,and this seems to help.

 

The hole size is .040. I took one to a machine shop, and he would not do it. He said cheaper to buy a new one, than all the drill bits, he would probably break.

 

Then he's an impatient machinist, I've had two different guys do them for me over the years, no issues.

 

This is a dumb question, does anyone have a diagram or a pic showing this plug?

Is this oil feed plug behind the freeze plug at the back of the engine, or ?

I just got my block back from machining- he installed all the freeze plugs & stuff that came in the kit i ordered, and re-installed the plugs that were in the block when i got it... but since the block was bare when i got it, i'm not sure it had the right one in it or not... i just want to make sure.

thanks-

 

Ben, here's a recent post discussing this plug that has pictures. John

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...lley-plug.html

 

ok- thats what i needed to know. I'll pull that one freeze plug out to make sure i've got the right one in there.

Everything else looks good, stoked to have my stuff back and be ready to start assembling!

 

The screw-in plug,inside the block,behind the freeze plug,has a small orfice to oil the distributor gear,and it needs to be in there.If you are running a solid roller cam,and are running a bronze distributor gear,you can open-up that orfice,to allow more volume to the distributor gear.That's what I did.

 

That's what inspection mirrors are for, sir.

Insert in the distributor hole. View the plug. Any orifice will be obvious. You may not need to remove the plug.

 

Exactly what I did today actually. Easy to view... but unfortunatly it is a solid plug, so i guess i'll be ordering the right one. I'm too busy/lazy to mess around trying to drill it.

Thanks for all the info