Thread: Question about rebuilding a 350

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This is my first time building a 350, its out of a 94 g30 1ton van. Anyways, I was looking through this site (Chevy High Performance)and there was an article on how to build your first 350.... and it mentioned to install a press-in plug in the hole adjacent to the No. 5 main cap.

here is the quote

"Don't forget to check to see if the small, press-in plug is installed in the hole adjacent to the No. 5 main cap. If this is left out, the engine will experience low oil pressure and completely bypass the oil filter. Also install the plug in the deck surface on the driver side at the rear. If you forget this plug, it cannot be installed with the head on the block. "

when I was tearing down the block I noticed this hole was not plugged from the factory, and my question is, is this nessasary, pros cons with this in or out? I am building the engine for the street and is going to be daily driven. I am ready to rebuild now and I'd rather do this now if I have to rather than after its all built and in the car.

Click Here link to article

Streets, I don't think there's any doubt that not all shops perform equally. That's why referrals are so valuable. It's not unlike when I interviewed prospective technicians. I worked to find out if they had the 20 years experience they claimed, or if they had 1 year's experience 20 times. Big difference.

And on the other side of the there's the experience that Brent had. He took his S.O. to a long time speed shop that had a lot of experience with FE's. After it failed the first time, post rebuild, he took it back to have it done right. You guessed it, died again. The shop has just gone down hill, probably because the owner has burned out and no longer pays attention to what's going on. Hard experience for Big B. But now, those that know the situation make sure everyone we know hears the story too. That guy's not going to get another chance to screw one of our buddies.

Streets, I picked the engine up from from a wrecking yard, so I have never seen it running. But on the other hand the place that I bought it from tested it and they noted it had some lifter noise. I just got it back from the machine shop and am pretty happy with the job they did, new cam bearings and freeze plugs, bored 30 over. Just wondering if this is something I NEED to do?

And thats what I basically did, I called and visited many machine shops and asked alot questions, about thier procceses and I tried to get as many referals from friends as I could. I just want to do it right the first time.