When I heard these tiny holes are for steam, I said to myself, "Yeah, right."
Then I thought of how much (or how little) water pressure there is.  Aint no way any meaningful water is going to flow through these small holes.  Steam, causes LOTS of pressure, and shoots through the smallest openings.  So ok, I'll buy the 'steam' theory.

First of all, I'm not building a race engine to go in a two ton Galaxie.  Is it an early engine?  They came out in '54, mine is a '59, and I believe trucks still used the 292 in '62.  Mine is in the middle of Ford's production run which means, for five years before mine, Ford didn't need extra holes but now they do.

Ok, so what to believe?  The guys with the most experience, practicing their talents and skills.  If Ted says, "No need for holes," then that's good enough for my 292.

The holes will still remain in the Fel-Pro head gaskets, but I won't drill my iron.

Dave Dare

Royal Oak, Michigan (Four miles north of Detroit, and 12 miles NORTH of Windsor, Canada).  That's right, we're north of Canada.

Ford 292 Y-Block major overhaul by simplyconnected

I drilled the extra steam hole in my heads and block of any yblock  I'm building, it seems the help the engine run alittle cooler which I'm in favor of. But I don't believe it's by know means a must do if your engine runs cool enough as it is. My reasoning for doing it is because the exhaust in the middle are close enough to create a hot spot.

-Gary Burnette-

Assuming your head & gasket has the holes already, and you end up with an early block without them (and you decide the extra cooling not worth the risk of a crack starting by drilling the block), what exactly is the action/procedure that should be followed (if any)?

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

Forgive me for beating this dead horse, Ted.
It is unnerving to find instructions in my quality Fel Pro full gasket set, to drill tiny "steam" holes in my block and heads, especially if they aren't needed.  I will take your advice and NOT drill them.  My block has lasted all these years without a hitch (hole-less), and I trust your experience and skills much more than Fel Pro's.

I am very glad I found this thread, because at this time in my build, NOW is the time to make this decision.  Truthfully, I damn-near followed Fel Pro's instructions to drill all eight holes.  - Dave

Royal Oak, Michigan (Four miles north of Detroit, and 12 miles NORTH of Windsor, Canada).  That's right, we're north of Canada.

Ford 292 Y-Block major overhaul by simplyconnected

Unless you could fill the steam holes with a steel insert, there wouldn’t be a strength advantage to doing otherwise.  And ideally plugging the holes with a steel insert would need to be done before deck milling.  I’d recommend just leaving the holes as is in lieu of just filling them up with sealer or epoxy.  The holes in the gasket are more of a problem than the hole in the block as far as gasket failure goes.  The holes in the block and heads on the other hand are just an opportunity for a crack to start out from.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

This was along the lines of my thinking also, given what Ted said.  Maybe it isnt any big deal.  Performance level is mild with 9 to 1 comression.  But if they arent going to be used, they sure are close to the cylinder wall.

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

Y-Guys  Don't hold this against me, but the 400 small block

            scrub has the "steam" holes and a lot of them seem

            to have problems... My 2cnts   Bill

            

Bill

Pelham,Al

Gary,



If your head gasket has the holes (FelPro does), wouldn't the same hi-po leak/gasket problem Ted mentioned still exist if the block has them? Might as well drill holes in the head and take advantage of the additional cooling of center exhaust valve area, or fill the gasket holes with sealer?

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

Leave as is because they are blocked by the heads not having the steam holes.

-Gary Burnette-

Since my block has the holes and the heads do not, is there an easy way to plug up the holes that wouldnt require resurfacing of the deck?  Epoxy?

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.