x75x75x75
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2026
- Posts
- 10
- Reaction score
- 8
- Location
- texas
- First Name
- BRIAN
- Truck Year
- 1984
- Truck Model
- C2500
- Engine Size
- 454
Beginning to assemble a marine 502 I picked up for my Sierra 2500. Bare block is bored +0.030, flat top pistons, SCAT crank/rods and that's about it. Also have a new pair of Merlin oval port heads. I am missing a bunch of detail items I will acquire and install over time. I have experience swapping cams and heads but never built an engine from scratch.
First question is about oil galley plugs. I picked up a Melling MPE-275BR plug kit that included 18 NPT plugs for the block (and 9 freeze plugs). When I test fit the screw plugs, some only tightened up when they went beyond flush with the block. Other plugs stood up a little, not going all the way in.
Photos show plugs test fit in various location, but most of them sink into the block a little. I understand if plugs go too deep they can block the oil feed and really mess things up.
Also, the plug kit did not include a couple of plugs that seem to fit 7/16 -20 holes.
This is my first rodeo, so any observations are greatly appreciated.
First question is about oil galley plugs. I picked up a Melling MPE-275BR plug kit that included 18 NPT plugs for the block (and 9 freeze plugs). When I test fit the screw plugs, some only tightened up when they went beyond flush with the block. Other plugs stood up a little, not going all the way in.
Photos show plugs test fit in various location, but most of them sink into the block a little. I understand if plugs go too deep they can block the oil feed and really mess things up.
Also, the plug kit did not include a couple of plugs that seem to fit 7/16 -20 holes.
This is my first rodeo, so any observations are greatly appreciated.
