The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 350 Rebuild Question

I bought the "How to How to Rebuild Small-Block Chevy Lt1/Lt4 Engines" book. I am somewhat of a novice (as you can see from my earlier messages). My 350 engine block is from a 1976 Chevy truck. Anyway, the book states that before I place the bearings and the crank onto the block, to be sure to place a 'ball bearing' into a particular hole near the rear crank cap? I do not know what they are talking about. I do not remember seeing this ball. Is it some sort of check valve? Is my block from an Lt1 engine? What is this ball bearing for? Help!!!

You might want to get a book on how to rebuild an older carb'd SBC. LT1's and LT4's were used in early to mid 90's corvettes, camaros, and firebirds, and are slightly different than the conventional small block like having reverse cooling, aluminum heads, distributor-less ignition, and of course the fancy EFI. As for your question, I don't know but the ball bearing thing could be specific to the LT1/LT4. Someone who has rebuilt an old SBC will surely let you know.

Richie-greetings, salutations! As JeffC stated, you should get ahold of the earlier "How To Rebuild Smallblock Chevy" book. Having torn down and rebuilt a large journal 327 smallblock (for my first car, a Chevy Vega) I can positively tell you that there is NO ball bearing in the earlier motors, like yours. Perhaps it is used to restrict oil flow to where the distributor would be in an older engine? Can't say for sure, but the most important thing is to get your hands on the CORRECT literature for the engine you are building. This is particularily important to someone who hasn't done it before. Best of luck to you sir. Hope you haven't gotten any greasy fingerprints on that book so you can still return it!

Regards,
Wannabe

There is a good video that even more helpful. Here is a link to were you can order it thru Eastwood. They have one one hot rodding a small block also I have both and they clear up a lot of thinks.
www.eastwoodco.com/aspfiles/itemdy01.asp?UID=2002123113253507&T1=46034&Dep_Key1=EngDri

I went to a machine shop today and discovered that there is a steel ball that fits into one of the holes of the block where the rear cap sits. If the ball is removed you would have direct access to the oil pressure sensor on the other side of the block. The machinist told me it was a 'freeze plug'. Thanks! I am sure I will have more to come.

If you are rebuilding a Small Block and have a machine shop clean the block make sure that they replace that plug. If it isnt there or blows out you will lose most of your oil pressure and the oil will bypass the filter.