I bought a Chevy crate engine and I noticed there is a threaded hole just above the oil filter. What is this for?
A pic would help. Many blocks had one or two locations for the clutch pivot ball, one of which is above the oil filter boss. A clutch pivot ball hole would be a SAE course thread and an oil hole would typically be 1/8" NPT, so pretty easy to tell them apart.
If the hole is threaded 7/16-14 it's for a clutch linkage ball, but if you are referring to a hole centered in line with the oil filter that should have a 1/4' NPT plug in it. That horizontal hole gets oil from the filter and feeds the main bearings and the top end of the engine.
and what the oil hole is for, depends on what you're installing the engine in. In some Chevys, it's for an oil pressure switch or sending unit. In others, it's to be plugged.
I am thinking that they are in every small block (except early engines that had bypass filters) and that that was the access point to drill the cross gallery between the gallery from the oil pump and the oil filter.
Thanks for the help. It seems it is for the clutch mechanism, which I didn't realize because I'm using an auto. It's "B" in this photo.
Yep, looks like the hole for the Z-bar stud. There is a matching hole in your pic, on the bell housing itself to be used for different applications.
If it is for the clutch ball stud, It should go all the way through into the housing. Should be able to see the torque converter through it. Don't think I have seen one with a blind hole. D
i intend to use that hole and the one in the bellhousing to mount a bracket for a hydraulic slave cylinder to push on the fork
That is one good looking bracket,,,,,I also like the anti rattle spring bracket mounted outboard as well . Looks very good ,,,,,,,although I would have doubled the thickness of the base metal. That cylinder is under quite a load,,,,pressure wise,,,,,,should work fine though. Tommy
it is neat. i asked brian if he would mind if i copied it. i have given thought to using 1/4 inch material for the base.