Author Topic: Oil galley plug question  (Read 3253 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

LuxurySportCoupe

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 50
    • View Profile
Oil galley plug question
« on: April 13, 2016, 08:39:41 PM »
I've got an oil galley plug question for you guys. I'm putting my short block together and I've run into an issue. The machine shop tapped all of my oil galley holes for pipe plugs except for the one behind the distributor. After unsuccessfully searching everywhere for a brass plug to put in there, I wound up using a steel plug. Yesterday, as I went to pound it in, this happened (see attached picture). For peace of mind, I'd like to tap this hole and just run a pipe plug like the rest of my block, my question is, what size tap are you guys using for this? Thanks in advance.

1964 Galaxie 390 cruise-o-matic. 445 and C6 coming soon.

jayb

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7427
    • View Profile
    • FE Power
Re: Oil galley plug question
« Reply #1 on: April 13, 2016, 09:57:50 PM »
1/4" pipe plug will work.  Make sure you tap deep enough so that the plug doesn't protrude into the hole for the distributor.  If the plug sticks out too far, the distributor won't fit all the way down into the block.
Jay Brown
- 1969 Mach 1, Drag Week 2005 Winner NA/BB, 511" FE (10.60s @ 129); Drag Week 2007 Runner-Up PA/BB, 490" Supercharged FE (9.35 @ 151)
- 1964 Ford Galaxie, Drag Week 2009 Winner Modified NA (9.50s @ 143), 585" SOHC
- 1969 Shelby Clone, Drag Week 2015 Winner Modified NA (Average 8.98 @ 149), 585" SOHC

   

blykins

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4857
    • View Profile
    • Lykins Motorsports
Re: Oil galley plug question
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2016, 09:57:15 AM »
1/4" NPT tap.  It helps if you have a long tap.....5-6". 

Pioneer makes shorter plugs, so that can play to your advantage too. 

I usually run a dingleberry hone through the lifter bore after I tap that hole. 
Brent Lykins
Lykins Motorsports
Custom FE Street, Drag Race, Road Race, and Pulling Truck Engines
Custom Roller & Flat Tappet Camshafts
www.lykinsmotorsports.com
brent@lykinsmotorsports.com
www.customfordcams.com
502-759-1431
Instagram:  brentlykinsmotorsports
YouTube:  Lykins Motorsports

LuxurySportCoupe

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 50
    • View Profile
Re: Oil galley plug question
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2016, 10:28:48 AM »
Awesome, thanks guys!

1964 Galaxie 390 cruise-o-matic. 445 and C6 coming soon.

cammerfe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1664
    • View Profile
Re: Oil galley plug question
« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2016, 03:40:00 PM »
Make a custom-fit plug by cutting off both ends. A saw kerf to take a screw driver makes for simplicity.

KS

Barry_R

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1928
    • View Profile
    • Survival Motorsports
Re: Oil galley plug question
« Reply #5 on: April 14, 2016, 09:09:51 PM »
1/4" NPT tap.  It helps if you have a long tap.....5-6". 

Pioneer makes shorter plugs, so that can play to your advantage too. 

I usually run a dingleberry hone through the lifter bore after I tap that hole.

That is one plug position that I will often just use a press in one on.  Lifter bore and distributor limit the thickness of the plug and the depth of the threads gets kinda critical.  Really screws up your day when the distributor won't go in 'cuz you forgot to check it early in the build.  Y

You can safely mill off a portion of the diameter on the distributor to get clearance and allow plenty of rotation for advance adjustment if the plug interferes.  No idea at all how I came about learning that.... ::)