Jim Yergin Posted January 15, 2008 Report Posted January 15, 2008 I am rebuidling an engine for my '41 Plymouth. I am using a P24 block with the crank and connecting rods out of a D24 to make it a 230. On the P24 block there is a threaded opening next to the rear main seal that is not on my P12 block or the D24 block. It appears to be a passageway open to the outside rear of the engine. What is it for? Should I plug it up to keep the engine oil from reaching the clutch? Thanks. Jim Yergin Quote
Don Coatney Posted January 15, 2008 Report Posted January 15, 2008 I think blueskies has the answer. Quote
Young Ed Posted January 15, 2008 Report Posted January 15, 2008 That could be for the hydrive tranny which shared oil with the engine. In that case you'd want to plug it. Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted January 15, 2008 Report Posted January 15, 2008 Jim, I think I have that same opening on the 1953 block I got from you. It's had me stumped. Quote
blueskies Posted January 15, 2008 Report Posted January 15, 2008 I am rebuidling an engine for my '41 Plymouth. I am using a P24 block with the crank and connecting rods out of a D24 to make it a 230. On the P24 block there is a threaded opening next to the rear main seal that is not on my P12 block or the D24 block. It appears to be a passageway open to the outside rear of the engine. What is it for? Should I plug it up to keep the engine oil from reaching the clutch?Thanks. Jim Yergin The issue I ran into with my engine, was not a threaded hole in the block, but a non-threaded hole in the rear main bearing cap. This hole was previously covered over by the original face mount rear main seal. When I put it back together, I used the neoprene type seal that fits into the groove in the cap and block, so the hole was exposed. I didn't even notice the hole until a fellow e-mailed me out of the blue and asked how I plugged the hole. My response was "what hole...". Unfortunately I had just installed the engine in the frame, and was ready to fire it up... I wound up pulling the engine back out, pulling the pan and cap, and filling the hole. I used JB Weld to fill the hole, and it seems to be holding fine. The hole is drilled at an angle, and runs through the seal groove, so I lubed the seal, installed it, and then filled the hole with the JB Weld. The lube kept the seal from sticking the JB Weld, and the JB Weld formed to the seal as if the hole was never there. Since the new plug is a funky shape and connects into the groove, there is no way it could fall out into the engine. Here's another pic with the completed plug- Sounds like the threaded hole in your block is for something else... As a side note, did you get a 230 flywheel to go with your 230 crank? The 230 flywheel has a recess to accept the extra flange thinkness on the crank. If you use a 218 flywheel, it will be set back 3/16" toward the rear of the car, and the starter will not fully reach the teeth on the ring gear... Pete Quote
Jim Yergin Posted January 15, 2008 Author Report Posted January 15, 2008 Pete, Yes I do have a 230 flywheel. Having read your account about your rebuild, I had previously checked the rear main bearing cap to see if it had a similar hole. It does not. I think the threaded hole must have something to do with getting engine oil into the clutch area for a hydrive or the like. I plan on plugging it with a threaded plug. Thanks dodgepu1946, Joe and Don for your responses. Jim Yergin Quote
fredsv8shop Posted January 15, 2008 Report Posted January 15, 2008 This is my old 217 engine from the bizz coupe, the arrow points to a hole in the back of the engine that is used as a lubrication hole for the gear box. I have been told that this is designed for the Chicago police as they where the only ones who used engine lubrication for there gearboxes. As you can see in the picture there is a small groove around the hole to accomodate a o-ring as a seal between the gearbox and the engine. I was not aware of this and installed a non engine lubricated gearbox behind the engine and went on hollydays to Sweden !! Gentleman let me tell you that the back of the car and the cars driving behind me got very greasy !! I was loosing 1 liter of oil every 100 kilometers !! I wanted to go to the old style week-end in Sweden and kept on driving ( 2400 km round trip ) and changed the normal 15/40 oil for 90 grade oil wich made me loose 1 liter of oil every 250 km !! Okay we made it but a closer look at that hole would have saved us a lot of trouble !!! (I dropped the oil pan 3 times during our trip and used lots of sillicone thinking the oil seal was leaking ) http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/fredsv8shop/ Quote
Jim Yergin Posted January 15, 2008 Author Report Posted January 15, 2008 Yes, fredsV8shop, that is what the backside of the passageway looks like on my block. The other end is located on the lip of the block near the rear main bearing seal cap under the oil pan. It is that end where I intend to use the threaded plug. Interesting story, thanks for sharing. Jim Yergin Quote
Jim Yergin Posted January 16, 2008 Author Report Posted January 16, 2008 Joe, On that 1953 block, was there anything in that threaded opening like a plug or fitting? My engine was disassembled when I bought it so if there was something in that opening it may have been removed before I got it. Jim Yergin Quote
Jim Yergin Posted January 16, 2008 Author Report Posted January 16, 2008 I found a copy of the 1953 Plymouth Hydrive booklet on the Imperial Club website (http://www.imperialclub.com/Repair/Lit/Master/066/Page15.htm). A page in that booklet confirms dodgepu1946's post. The threaded opening is for the oil return pipe for the hydrive transmission. Since I won't be using a hydrive transmission there should be no problem with plugging the opening. Joe, the hydrive was offered in Plymouths in 1953 and 1954 which would explain why our blocks have these openings. Jim Yergin Quote
Young Ed Posted January 16, 2008 Report Posted January 16, 2008 Always knew I was good for something Ed Quote
Don Coatney Posted January 16, 2008 Report Posted January 16, 2008 Always knew I was good for something Ed Ed; When you find out zactly what you are good for let us know:D Quote
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