I purchased a 57 312 engine, sent it in to a machine shop to get worked on. While assembling it I noticed a hole on the right side towards the bottom of the block that is open to the crankcase. It is about a 1/2" in diameter and not threaded. Can somebody tell me what it is for? Thanks Dave V.

SE Wis

I believe you are referring to the hole where the dipstick tube goes on T-birds and Trucks. If your engine is going into a car and you are using the car front cover with the dipstick located in it you need to put an small expansion plug in that hole. Not sure what size.

Somebody will chime in with the correct size you will need.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

Dave;

A picture would help, but what you are describing sounds the the dip stick tube hole that is used in truck applications when using a rear sump oil pan and a front engine mount. If not being used, they just take a small plug like a frost plug to seal the hole off. Do you still have the dip stick tube mounted in the foward location just behind the timing cover on the lower right side? It would also be interesting to know the casting # of the block.

Rono

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

It does make sense that it would be an alternative dipstick hole if that's where trucks had it. I'll get a plug to seal it up. Thanks for the quick responses. Dave V

SE Wis

On the subject of holes in the block, my '55 block has two threaded holes just above the oil pan on the passenger side. They intersect with two oil pan bolts. Are these for something or were they used in the assembly process?

Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

Mark I believe they were used at the factory during assembly. I used them for brackets to hold my trans cooler lines...

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

That's what I thought. Now on to solve other mysteries, like why there are more water jacket holes in the heads than in the blocks and why after market brake lines all have a long nut on one end and a short one on the other and no explanation of which goes where.

Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

The two holes are for mounting the Ford engine stand.
marv

Cool. I actually have that picture but never looked at it too closely. Its amazing that the block can be supported that way.

Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

Dorman makes the expansion plug that fits in that dip stick tube hole when the motor is used in a passenger car and not a truck ot t-Bird application. the Dorman part # is 555-005 and it is a 1/2" plug that taps in until it is flush with the top of the hole.

312T85

What?