Plug on front of block, installation?

[dandrewg]

I'm in the process of my M20 rebuild have a question about installing the plug on the front of the block just behind the water pump (location shown by red arrow in picture, part number 11111268539). Do I need to apply a sealer to this plug? If so, what type should I use? I believe this is plugging a hole from oil passage machining but I'm not certain.

Thanks

[SpecM]

for the love of God do not use that Fram filter

[nando]

wierd, I don't remember that at all. I guess a dab of RTV won't hurt but don't glop it on there.

and yeah, ditch the fram. the anti-drainback valves suck.

edit: also, don't use those stamped steel sprockets. They tend to disintegrate and grenade your motor. get the cast steel ones from a later car. There was even a BMW recall on those.. you can already see the rust forming.

[dandrewg]

Thanks for the input

[Curt Hayes]

edit: also, don't use those stamped steel sprockets. They tend to disintegrate and grenade your motor. get the cast steel ones from a later car. There was even a BMW recall on those.. you can already see the rust forming.

Crap, wish I would've known that when I did my timing belt in December. Mine looks very similar to what's in the pic.
Blah.

[Sirotto]

Use thread sealant and not RTV.

[etxxz]

sorry to revive this thing... but how do you remove that pin?

[dandrewg]

I'm not really sure how it was removed, the machinist at the shop did that on my block. There is also one on the back of the block in the same location.

[etxxz]

yeah looks like he did it on mine too, but just the front one.

I made a plug from SS at work, 12mm (0.472"+-.001 on our mill ; /). i'll see how that goes when i get home. I don't want to wait two weeks for this plug to arrive. I wonder how he removed it because i have one in my old block..

[jlevie]

The usual way of getting plugs like that out is to drill, tap, and use a puller or slide hammer.

[etxxz]

aah wow i swear i was about to do this!! ey, there's more than one way to skin a cat. Thanks jlevie.

btw what do you do? you seem to have gobbles of experience. it wouldn't surprise me if you're an engineer too.

edit: 1/2" bolt, head and thread cut off, turned down to 12mm (11.97mm actual)

[jlevie]

aah wow i swear i was about to do this!! ey, there's more than one way to skin a cat. Thanks jlevie.

btw what do you do? you seem to have gobbles of experience. it wouldn't surprise me if you're an engineer too.

I was formally trained as a physicist/mathematician, but work as a computer systems admin (primary expertise is in Unix/Linux& Networking).

[etxxz]

^^ yeah you sound like a studied person. i usually don't pay attention much to nicknames, but i've bumped into you a lot lately. i'm a msme designing hydrogen fuel cells & systems integration mostly at a mechanical level. good stuff. thanks Jim.