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What is this engine pipe plug's purpose?

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Old Oct 1, 2022 | 07:46 AM
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Default What is this engine pipe plug's purpose?

78 L82 original engine . Looked through the service manual, google, etc. and came up empty. Attended a car cruise last night and saw a 73 with this plug but not there in other small blocks in Chevrolets. Is it Corvette only? does it have a special name.? thanks.


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Old Oct 1, 2022 | 08:05 AM
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I believe its part of drilling the oil passages and is capped after that. Your pic is too small to see exactly where it is but I know there is one on the drivers side rear

its the green line and the plugs are the 2 black dots, one is the oil pressure line




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Old Oct 1, 2022 | 08:11 AM
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Looking at y9uor pic yours looks to be on the front but is probably the same thing for a different passage. probably for the front cam bearing Nothing important
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Old Oct 1, 2022 | 08:41 AM
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Here
Quite a few block plugs..probably for machining..
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/83...ck-plug-basics


Last edited by interpon; Oct 1, 2022 at 08:56 AM.
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Old Oct 1, 2022 | 09:53 AM
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Part of the manufacturing process for SOME sbc engines. Flint small blocks will have it but Tonawanda small blocks will not have it.
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Old Oct 1, 2022 | 10:03 AM
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Thanks, I reduced the picture because mine are usually too large but Interpon shows it better. Just odd that not all small blocks had them.
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Old Oct 1, 2022 | 10:35 AM
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Originally Posted by BKarol
Thanks, I reduced the picture because mine are usually too large but Interpon shows it better. Just odd that not all small blocks had them.
Some engine specifications call for specific machining operations that might be low volume in nature. It would not make good economic sense to equip all the production facilities with all the same machinery to build all of the different combinations. Too expensive. GM would be better off equipping one plant to build all of the low volume spec engines at one facility to same money. All Corvette big blocks were made at Tonnawanda for example. Tonnawanda built small blocks too and Flint built small blocks and they had other engine facilities in Canada etc. Lower volume engines such as solid lifter small block engines and 4 bolt main small blocks were never built in Tonawanda because they did not have the equipment to make those type of engines. Different plants had different machines and procedures.

Last edited by stingr69; Oct 1, 2022 at 01:50 PM.
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Old Oct 2, 2022 | 02:02 PM
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Not important? Try driving without it
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