​4.3 v6 freeze plug locations

[dlogvine]

I started putting together 1993 4.3 V6 Mercruiser. It has no balanced shaft, standard rotation. First thing, I put the freeze plugs. 1.5" brass plugs locations (8 total) were easy identifiable, camshaft plug also (which I would install later after the camshaft bearing inserted. But then I had 4 more freeze plugs left. Two threaded ones seems to be the drain plugs and I might just use the better easier removable ones, but the other two were non threaded plugs and the only holes I found close in size were two holes around the crankshaft seal location. However, these holes were threaded and Im not sure if these are the right ones. Looked at the engine manual, not even a slightest hint of their locations. So the question is, where do they go and if the other two small drain looking plugs went into the correct places? Images are attached. Thank you

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, they are core plugs (sorry, its a pet peeve) you can also call them a welch plug. however they are NOT freeze plugs

is this a new block you are putting together or did you grab a salvage motor to convert?

those two small ones are cam oil galley plugs - at the cam snout (under the timing gear). if its a salvage motor, dont worry about changing the oil plugs

 

[dlogvine]

No Title

The engine is an original Mercruiser from 1993 Bayliner Capri. It was completely taken apart at the machine shop, vatted, magnafluxed and the cylinders were rebored .030 over. So this engine is going through a complete rebuild. Old oil plugs and other (if you prefer) core plugs, were removed at the machine shop, and i did not make a good picture of the engine since I did not take it apart. One thing that concerns me about these oil cam galley plugs is the holes for these plugs are threaded, while the plugs are clearly not... in the other freeze plug kits these plugs are also non threaded. So do i just use the plug driver and some Indian head shellac compound to plug these holes?

 

[Bt Doctur]

cam gallery plugs are pressfit or threaded If there are threads in the block you need threaded plugs doing it any other way will ruin the block
You correct on the block drains, remove those threaded plugs and throw them away, install the brass drain plugs

 

[dlogvine]

No Title

Correction, in the marine plug kit I found two oil plugs, that were threaded and did fit right into the holes as well as a better set of drain plugs. However marine kit contained 3 extra, small size brass plugs. So the remaining question is, are these extra plugs, sizes fron 1/2" to 5/8" extra, as some kits provide, or are they supposed to go into some holes, which i did not found yet? Thx

 

[dlogvine]

I'm taking the block back to the shop. looks like one of the cam bearings is not fitting in. I'll ask about the other plugs there. will post after I get an answer

 

[achris]

It may be a multi fit kit, designed for more than one engine. Thus having leftovers is a virtual guarantee.

Chris.

 

[dlogvine]

Now a question a little out of the freeze plug field. Im putting in the camshaft bearings and I noticed that there are more than on oil holes in the journals and on 3 out of 4 bearings there is only one hole. Where do the bearing holes point? Also a journal has a groove in the middle so how precise should be the hole in the bearing and the hole in the journal be aligned? Thx

 

[Scott Danforth]

I suggest paying the machine shop to install and align the cam bearings. failure to align them starves the cam of oil. plus they only charge $40, and the installation tool is $100