Discrepancies in information on LA and Magnum series oil gallery plugs
That isn't the point of confusion, man.
The point that isn't clear is how there was no consistent standard practice. There are too many variables and no consensus. My 68 standard bore, standard steel head gasket 318 had no plugs but had a plate that did not have a relief groove in it. It clearly blocked oil flow. It had 4 matching screws retaining the plate, 4 tapped holes in the face of the block and none of them had a hole drilled through them. Stock link type single row timing chain. The engine looked worn out but was as original/factory assembled as any that I've ever seen. I've torn down a few 273s that looked the same. My own 1990 360 had no plugs but had that thrust plate with the relief groove in it. The MP crate 360 we tore down 3 months ago had no plugs in it but had the same thrust plate as my 360.
There has been no consistency from the engines that I have seen except that none have had the plugs in them.
I'm not claiming that none ever did, just that I have yet to see them. Others seem to have never seen an engine that did NOT have them.
This is where the clear as mud statement applies.
In theory, it would seem redundant and pointless to have the plugs in place if the thrust plate looked like this:
Seriously, do you see oil getting past this?
That isn't the point of confusion, man.
The point that isn't clear is how there was no consistent standard practice. There are too many variables and no consensus. My 68 standard bore, standard steel head gasket 318 had no plugs but had a plate that did not have a relief groove in it. It clearly blocked oil flow. It had 4 matching screws retaining the plate, 4 tapped holes in the face of the block and none of them had a hole drilled through them. Stock link type single row timing chain. The engine looked worn out but was as original/factory assembled as any that I've ever seen. I've torn down a few 273s that looked the same. My own 1990 360 had no plugs but had that thrust plate with the relief groove in it. The MP crate 360 we tore down 3 months ago had no plugs in it but had the same thrust plate as my 360.
There has been no consistency from the engines that I have seen except that none have had the plugs in them.
I'm not claiming that none ever did, just that I have yet to see them. Others seem to have never seen an engine that did NOT have them.
This is where the clear as mud statement applies.
In theory, it would seem redundant and pointless to have the plugs in place if the thrust plate looked like this:
Seriously, do you see oil getting past this?