A1G2 Upper Unit Weep/Vent hole?

[HeadAbove]

Hi All,

This off-season, I decided to strip the old, hard AF paint from my A1G2 sterndrive and refinish.
In doing that, I have exposed a hole in the upper unit which I can't identify. I can't find any reference to this hole in Manual #14 or anywhere online.

I've tried to clean it out, but it is plugged with aluminum about 1/16in deep. I.e. The hole doesn't appear to go all the way through the case. But it is a perfectly symmetrical, circular hole, suggesting intention.

Can anyone confirm if this some kind of factory vent / weep hole?
Or should I fill it before I repaint?

The 1st photo is for location context. The 2nd is a close-up of the hole.

(Sterndrive s/n 1A246749)

TIA!

 

[HeadAbove]

I've since found a few photos online which show this same "dimple" on the stbd side of the gen2 upper unit.

It is perfectly in-line with the oil passage that extends from the hole with the quad ring on the LU to the top of the UU.
But after cleaning out this dimple - down to bare metal - I can see that it isn't intended to be any kind of vent hole.

So I'm assuming it is a casting artifact and will fill before repaint.

 

[Bondo]

I've since found a few photos online which show this same "dimple" on the stbd side of the gen2 upper unit.

It is perfectly in-line with the oil passage that extends from the hole with the quad ring on the LU to the top of the UU.
But after cleaning out this dimple - down to bare metal - I can see that it isn't intended to be any kind of vent hole.

So I'm assuming it is a casting artifact and will fill before repaint.

Ayuh,...... Welcome Aboard,...... I'm glad you figured it out,.....
I didn't dare to comment before, 'cause I couldn't remember,.... I thought 'bout going down to my shop to look at one of the drives there, but today is the 1st day for awhile that it's gotten above zer0,.... 10* above still ain't nice, in an unheated shop,.....

 

[HeadAbove]

Ayuh,...... Welcome Aboard,...... I'm glad you figured it out,.....
I didn't dare to comment before, 'cause I couldn't remember,.... I thought 'bout going down to my shop to look at one of the drives there, but today is the 1st day for awhile that it's gotten above zer0,.... 10* above still ain't nice, in an unheated shop,.....

Yikes. Don't blame you. Stay warm!

I found 2 or 3 more of those "casting artifacts" in various other places on the drive. They all look like perfectly circular, filled holes, but are barely visible under the factory paint. I filled that deeper "dimple" in the photo, but won't bother with the rest of them. Bored with the finishing prep' work now. Just want to get it done and move into something more exciting, like... Resealing my exhaust elbow.