A question and an ask SBM 318

moparmat2000 said

My machinest had a single 19/32" plug. So I now have everything for the oiling holes. I talked to my resident mopar head who said without the plugs in the front holes, you will have a helluva leak at the front. It will be less with the machined thrust plate, but it will be there. If you use the V6 chain tensioner with its stamped steel thrust plate, the leak will be even worse. He also said the tensioner is wide enough to work with the double roller chains with no adverse effects.

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I tested that. Probably 5-6 times over the years. I have never seen a “helluva” leak around that plate. It just doesn’t happen unless the block has an issue or the cam plate isn’t flat (seen that a couple of times) and in that case the cam plate needs to be replaced.

Like I said, I’ve pulled apart enough of these engines that were never apart before and not one of them had the plugs in there.

Use the plugs if it makes you feel better but if they aren’t in there you’d never know it.

Maybe when I put my junk back together I’ll make a video of how much oil leaks past that plate with no plugs in the gallery’s.

Of course, it wouldn’t matter if I did because you’d still have those who would argue how important they are. Not even God Himself could convince them otherwise.