I fear I once again didn't look forward enough and may have made more work for me. I am replacing a 239 Y-block (don't ask) out of a 1956 Thunderbird with a 292. I didn't think to look where the hole for the oil dip stick tube was located on the re-manufactured 292 before I buttoned up the oil pan.

I find the hole on the side of the block for the Thunderbird is plugged, and the hole next to the timing cover is open. Can the plug be easily removed on a complete engine? or do I have to drop the oil pan to remove it? How do I plug the open hole?

Thanks

The plugs are the same diameter.  Knock the one out.  Then you have three options:

-See f you can fish it out through the drain plug hole and reinstall in the front hole.

-remove the pan to remove the plug and reinstall in the front hole.

-leave it in the pan and install a new plug in the front hole.  It won't cause any harm there as the screen in the oil pickup will protect the pump from items like that.


Lawrenceville, GA

Any idea where I can find a new plug? Is it tapered and just pressed into place?

It's like a small core plug.  A hardware store or even auto parts store may have them.  The hole is 1/2" so I imagine it is a 1/2" plug.



Lawrenceville, GA

you should be able to run a bottoming tap into the car plug,then turn it while ruling up. tap a nut on to the square end of the tap so you can turn it withe a ratchet(use acource tap and must be a boteming tap. don't laugh i do it often rocker shafts and dip stick core plugs

I now have the plug out. I had to push it in and left it in the bottom of the oil pan. It appears to me that there is a sleeve in the hole (see picture). I assume I will need to knock this out too? For the dip stick to fit properly?

I think that is just a counter bore. I can look at a block tonight.

See if the dipstick tube goes in. The dipstick tube is a very close fit so it should not just drop in but it should go in fairly easily. If it does, then it is not a sleeve. If it just falls in or will not go in at all, then there is a problem.


Lawrenceville, GA

I looked at my old 239 block and it looks similar, so it must be that counter bore you mentioned. However, the tube does not go in as far on my 292 as it does on the 239. Any chance the diameter is different on the two blocks?

Also, I can't remember which bolt is used to secure the tube using the attached bracket. It looks like it might be in the area of the exhaust manifold bolt?

I can't answer those as I do not have a 239 block to look at. and I don't know how the dipstick tube fastens on a 'Bird.

If it is simply that the tube does not go as deep in the 239 block, then the diameter's are not different.  What you could be experiencing is a tolerance stack up.  A 1/2" drill bit is not going to be dead on the money .500".  For example It might be .051" or .499", that would be +- .001".  No idea if those are real world numbers for the manufacturing tolerance of a drill bit, only an example.  If the 239 was drilled with .499" and the 292 with .501", then it is possible the 239 might be more difficult to install and seem to stop sooner.

It is only a counterbore for the rear sump location.  I verified on some spare blocks.  So no sleeve.  DO NOT try to get it out.



Lawrenceville, GA