Drill + Block = hole in block

[blue92laser]

Hey guys, my friend used a drill to try and tap out the bellhousing bolt thats on the left at the top of the housing. He missed the screw completely, and went right into the block. Now there is a nice hole in the block, and yep, he hit a oil galley. There is not cracks, just a hole. So I am wondering what I can use to repair the hole. The reason for not replacing the block is...the motor was just rebuilt with a new lightened crank and it seriously has no miles on it. We would rather repair the hole in the block and leave that bell housing bolt out as I have come across that 3 bolts in the bellhousing work just as good as 4. I know, its cheap...but we want this car to just stop leaking oil.

So any ideas would help. JB weld is out of the question. We tried...but maybe, just maybe, we missed a little spot on the block and it still leaks, because it leaks less, but still leaks.

Thanks guys.

 

[poppyseed]

The reason JB weld will not work is that the block expands at a different rate then JB weld. The best way to take care of it would be to get a metal rod of about the same diameter have it sticking out the whole then weld around it and cut the excess off. or you can just tap it for a (1/4" or smaller if you can find that or a coolant/ oil gallery plug)metal plug or try to drive a metal plug in it. The plug will have to be far enough in so that its head does not interfear with putting the tranny in.

 

[blue92laser]

Can't I just fill the hole with weld....instead of doin all that?

 

[KuZo]

Do it right the first time, I think the tap and plug idea is great as long as you can get a bead of weld around it to secure it. If you fill the hole with weld it could break lose with all the vibrations and expansion of metal and fall out or start to leak. Seeing as it's in the oil galley, thats the last thing you want when you're driving down the road is to lose the chunk of weld and have all your oil piss out, thus destrying the new engine. Good luck, take your time, and do it the right way, it's worth it.

 

[CyberEye]

And keep your friend the hell away from your car at all times.

 

[poppyseed]

Can't I just fill the hole with weld....instead of doin all that?

That idea crossed my mine but building a weld up like that deep enough in would cause unwanted metal pellets in your oil gallery from the welding. you know when you hold it to far how it pops and shoots metal. when trying to fill a hole with weld it is very easy to do that, and would get particals of metal in there. Thats why i would use a rod and then weld around it.

 

[blue92laser]

O, well what about this...Fill the very very bottom of the hole with permatex, right near the galley, but dont close the galley off. Let it dry...then weld from the permatex out to the end of the block...or could I use MARINE-TEX. I heard from a lot of old heads, marine-tex is the shit and it'll hold anything. The purpose for the permatex is so the metal beads or flakes dont go into the oil galley and eventually through the system.

 

[oddrob]

I would say tapping the hole and running a threaded plug is the best bet. And do whatever you can to try and fix the original problem. 3 bolts are not as good as 4.

 

[Iluvskanks]

good idea

 

[poppyseed]

O, well what about this...Fill the very very bottom of the hole with permatex, right near the galley, but dont close the galley off. Let it dry...then weld from the permatex out to the end of the block...or could I use MARINE-TEX. I heard from a lot of old heads, marine-tex is the shit and it'll hold anything. The purpose for the permatex is so the metal beads or flakes dont go into the oil galley and eventually through the system.

Put it this way your playing with fire, and you could get burnt (if the stuff ever loosening when it ages), but that is a clever idea i have to give you that

I am not sure with marine-tex never used it. If I think of anything slick, I will post it

 

[Grimis]

I would say tapping the hole and running a threaded plug is the best bet. And do whatever you can to try and fix the original problem. 3 bolts are not as good as 4.

^^^ what he said, and the rod/weld would be the only 2 options i would chose.. Good luck and report back when fixed.

 

[americanjebus]

i would also say tap into the whole and get some sort of tapped plug or bolt that will work, would probably be the easiest way of doing it.

 

[Iluvskanks]

You could open an oil gallery plug some where and keep blasting air in as you are welding

 

[v8s_are_slow]

not sure if this is too late or not. maybe you've fixed it already. i dunno. but as far as welding the hole up? screw that idea. if there's oil in there it's gonna be dirty and not very easy to clean. when welding, you need a clean surface to weld to. otherwise it'd be pretty contaminated and could be weak.

hell, if it were me, i'd try and plug the whole shut. not sure how far off you were though when drilling. if you still haven't gotten the old screw out, i'd try and get it out 1st of all. if you can't, i'd try and find a stud to insert in there, weld it in, grind the edges smooth so the tranny doesn't hit it and keep it from mounting flush, and then slide the tranny over it (almost like a dowel pin) and use a nut to secure it down. there's my 2 cents.

 

[blue92laser]

Actually we fixed it yesterday. We took a trip to advanced auto parts and talked to a guy who sounded like he knew his shit. He gave us this stuff. It was in a tube and it was like a putty. The slogan on it said "Dries harder than steal in 15 mins". Looked cheesey and cheap but the price tag begged to differ. We got to the talon cleaned up and roughened the surface pretty good. Started playing with this "shit" and it was like putty. I doubed it right away but I went to smeering. All you had to do was make sure the putty in the middle that was black and the putty on the outside that was grey was mixed real good. The 2 colors blended and we smudge this "shit" all over and we were instructed to smear it into the hole or it wouldnt work. After a couple of minutes of smeering we took a cigg. break. Came back and sure enough the stuff definately dry as hard as the block and didnt move. It's now been about a full day of driving and not a drip from that hole. As a matter of fact all of the oil leaks are fixed and it's held 5 quarts of oil to the line since yesterday night. We beat on it a bit and the valve seals we struggled to replace are holding very well too. Anywho, thats our fix. If anyone really wants the name PM me and I will find it out for you. Its an awesome product.