Fuel Pump rod bolt hole

[rpounds]

There are two 3/8-16 UNC tapped holes in the lower front of the block on the passenger side, one of which is in line with the fuel pump actuator rod. This particular hole can be used to hold the rod in place while removing and replacing the fuel pump.

With that in mind, I have an oil leak that is driving me a little bit crazy (short trip, I know). I am wondering, since the fuel pump actuator rod goes through an unsealed bore directly to the camshaft, is is possible that oil could be weeping out of this threaded hole?

Second question - in factory stock form, is there a bolt normally in this hole in order to seal it off? Any ideas you may have would be appreciated.

I might also mention that the front seal, pan gasket (including pan to timing chain cover), timing chain cover gasket, etc. are new and appear to not be causing the leak. So, I'm a little baffled.

Thanks for you input.

Ron

 

[Tom73]

My 73 has a short bolt in that hole to seal it up. When I changed the fuel pump awhile back, I removed the short bolt and thread in, lightly, a longer bolt to hold the pump rod.

So, yes, if nothing is in that hole, you will more then likely have a flood of oil out of it.

tom...

 

[Ken]

Funny that this should come up. I just went through that same thing last week at Gainesville, only in my case the bolt worked itself completely out of the hole and oil was splashing everywhere. They didn't like that on the drag strip.

I have yet to get back in there and see why it worked free in the first place. I have it in place far enough that it doesn't leak at least.

In case you may be wondering, there is no real pressure behind the hole, it simply splashes around a lot in there.

_ken

 

[rpounds]

Thanks for the responses. This is exactly what I suspected.

 

[JohnZ]

It came originally with a 3/8"-16 x 1/2" bolt in it with thread sealer on it; that will cure it.

 

[rpounds]

Thanks John. Did they use a lock washer or just the thread sealer?

 

[JohnZ]

No washer - just thread sealer.

 

[rpounds]

Thanks John!!

 

[bioandy]

Wish I read this thread before replacing fuel pump gaskets today. When that failed to fix my oil leak, I discovered the threaded hole, with no bolt.

 

[rpounds]

Hee hee . . . story of my life . . . a day late and a dollar short!!

 

[sscam69]

:L