plugging extra bolt holes in stage block

[gato]

In the process of prepping a stage block with 14 bolt holes.

Will be bolting on a set of production heads for running TSS. Anyone have good luck with plugging the extra holes with set screws?

Thanks in advance.

 

[JoyOf6]

No problem with doing that.

Art

 

[mygrain]

How do you get them out later? Why not use a stage 1 block with 8 holes instead of 14?

 

[S2V6RACER]

Plugging bolt holes

Why the need to do that? The extra bolt holes don't break into the water passage.

At least the block I'm looking at here.

Ted

 

[gato]

bolt holes

This is a 3.8 off center block. All of the extra holes are already in the block which is why I want to plug them. If I could have found a block reasonably without them, I would have bought it.

My holes go all the way thru, which Is why I need to plug them. I have heard of others having problems with leaking after plugging with set screws. Must be the choice of sealant.

I bought 7/8 long set screws & plan to use high temp RTV.

 

[S2V6RACER]

I had a 4.1 stage I that had the extra bolts drilled and went all the way through. I used 2- 7/16" allen set screws with teflon thread seal on them. I used the 2 because I wanted to be able to tighten the upper down and have it bottom against something.

It never leaked, but I wasn't crazy about it.

 

[Mac in SD]

Originally posted by mygrain
Why not use a stage 1 block with 8 holes instead of 14?

Yeah, Gato...Why not just pop on down to the Buick store and pick up a Stage 1 block?

 

[gato]

steam holes

One other quick question. The block has steam holes drilled between cylinders that were used with a set of champion 14 bolt heads. Do I need to plug the steam holes, or drill corresponding holes in the heads, or gasket?

Stock 8 bolt heads will be going on the block.

Thanks again.

 

[Lee Thompson]

pluggin holes

Don/t know if all Stage blocks were machined with the same specs
This is what I did, all the water holes that are not used, I tapped with a 3/8 pipe tap and plugged with allen head 3/8 pipe plugs using liquid teflon pipe dope. Obviously they must be below the deck surface.

On the steam holes---1/4-20 tap and set screws BTW mine were drilled at a slight angle

My thinking is, plugged holes are one less place for a chance to leak.

 

[HighPSI]

I would leave the steam holes. Just in case you decide to run a different head in the future. Or you could drill the head for steam holes. FWIW: I drill 2 steam holes in a stock block when using GN-1 heads. I put them between #1&3 and #4&6 to aid in cooling the center exhaust valves. I don't know if it works, but it hasn't hurt anything

 

[gato]

steam holes

Originally posted by HighPSI
I would leave the steam holes. Just in case you decide to run a different head in the future. Or you could drill the head for steam holes. FWIW: I drill 2 steam holes in a stock block when using GN-1 heads. I put them between #1&3 and #4&6 to aid in cooling the center exhaust valves. I don't know if it works, but it hasn't hurt anything

Thanks Cal.

Are there holes in the GN1's that match, or does the hole dead end at the gasket?

So I should just bolt the o-ringed heads on with the stock gaskets & leave the steam holes to dead end at the stock gasket?

Just want to make sure.

 

[Lee Thompson]

pluged holes

All of the holes that I plugged are with allen heads and pipe dope. Unless I am missing something here, I don/t see any reason they can/t be removed with an allen wrench in the future if need be.

 

[Kip]

Seal all the holes as you will be doing yourself a favor and can allways open them back up later.
Hope this helps, Kip