So I posted the lifter question last week and got some great advice and info, thanks everyone and it turned out to be 3 bent pushrods. So I said I was going to check the heads and lifters, well I just lept going until everything but the pistons and crank was pulled and found while I thought I had a 289 Hi Po its actually a 302. I want to use this block for the rebuild but there are some holes I'm concerned about. I would post pics but the site isn't letting me. Its a hole 2in in diameter right above where the camshaft sits, so you can see the cam. Theres also a hole the size of a quarter behind where the timing cover plate attachs to the block.

 

i got an extra 302 block w/ castin numbers that say it was made in 79. let me know if you want it.

 

Many blocks have 'holes' in the valley to help speed oil drain back. On the 351c for instance all the blocks look like someone took a hammer and smacked the block with all their might just behind where the dizzy sits.

 

yeah the one by the cam looks like it had a hammer taken to it; edges are all jagged and neither of them definitely do not look professional

 

my 1972 351w block has got a couple of holes about the size of a dime in the lifter valley, like yours.

 

So are these holes ok to have? I'm planning on putting in a lot of high perfromance stuff, like forged crank, pistons, rods and aluminum heads so I don't want to spend a lot of time and money if it the holes might cause damage.

 

Based on description alone and without a pic (to prove otherwise) I would say that you most likely are confusing factory oil drain back releifs for something dire. I did the same thing with my block when I took the intake off the first time:

 

My pic file size is too big for this site. If theres another way to send a pic, let me know

 

here is a 302 roller block ive got too. does this look like the hole you have?



[IMG]local://upfiles/19521/5ED329389F63491AB096ABDDD13FD277.jpg[/IMG]

and here is my 351w. you can kinda see the holes for oil drainage.

[IMG]local://upfiles/19521/5596DB6B53BA43A3982468FA07CE7EEA.jpg[/IMG]



also i just edit my pictures in paint to make them small enough to fit.

 

I think I posted the pic this time, probably as a link though, that shows the hole I'm talking about that is next to the cam

[IMG]local://upfiles/31112/22F7E853EAA34DB3A43217E86B09459B.jpg[/IMG]