Technical drilling into a 59AB block

Anyone know how thick the block casting is at the point shown in the photo?

I'd like to tap a hole there for my coil mount.

 

"Not the answer you're looking for" .. but in specific home repair contractor applications I've used Belzona Molecular Metal for heat cycle/pressure applications. Having said that .. JB Weld metal original isn't to be scoffed at either.

If in doubt, maybe safety wire the bracket, in the event of epoxy failure. Don't think you'd need it though.

BTT

 

thats the exhaust tunnel there, may never get a bolt out after it been there for a while. probably thick enough, but i personally would not do it

 

Instead of tapping a hole why not fashion a bracket that bolts on to the head stud? That is what I did on mine.

 

That's too easy. I've got the lower end of the bracket secured by one of the water-pump bolts (the one in the foreground that's missing), and am hoping not to run a visible tab off the top end of the bracket. Wife says I'm a little OCD.

 

^^^^^ Is that hole worth the gamble Adrian?

 

Use a stud with Permatex gasket sealer on the threads. 5/16” ?

 

Don't drill that hole. Do this instead. This will also work on your engine.
All you need is a little longer water pump bolt.

 

That's pretty much what I'm doing, but I don't want the other end of the bracket flapping in the breeze.

 

^^^^^ Then make portion of bracket that mates against water pump conform (think external keying) to water pump so rotation won't happen.

 

I made my bracket out of 3/16 and 1/4 in thick cold rolled steel.
It doesn't bend, flex, twist or rotate. Holds coil in place just fine.
Stiff as a board. Been on my car 10 years. Zero problems. No leaks either. I've made and sold 15 of them. No complaints.

 

that particular spot is approx 1/4 thick and is in the cooling not exhaust, hence water is there do something else........

 

I used one of the cheapo chrome coil brackets with the hole in the leg, shaped like a P. The kind that clamps the coil and mounts in the middle of the coil, not the bottom. I drilled the mounting hole big enough to fit over a head stud right there at the front of the head. Rode fine right there for years, never rotating or slipping.

 

Lol,,,,,,reminds me of my dad when I was growing up .
We would be working together on equipment and he would tell me exactly what to do .
Then I would try it my way,,,he would patiently say,,,,son ,,,,don’t do that,,,,this is the right way .
Then,,,a few moments later,,,,no son,,,,,this the right way,,, .
Then ,,,,, a third time,,,,,of course I didn’t listen .

Then,,,,,,after that,,,,,he would just chuckle,,,,,,,” heh heh,,,,,,alright son,,,just do it your way “.
And of course it always ended with a bad result on my end,,,,,,he was trying to help me,,,,,but I wouldn’t listen !

Several guys here have already tried to help,,,,,don’t drill that block there,,,,you will regret it .
But,,,,,,like my old daddy always said,,,,heh ,heh,,,,go ahead,,,,maybe it won’t damage it too bad .

Daddy is 91,,,,and I still look up to him for advice and listen to what he says,,,,,about 99 percent of the time he is right,,,,,that’s a pretty good average .

Tommy

 

Maybe someone with a junk block and free time should check this out. I too thought that this would be a great spot to mount something.

 

You don’t need a junk block,,,,,,,that is where the water pump mounts .
Like Carl said,,,,that area is about a .250 inch thick .
With the pump off,,,,you can take your fingers and reach back in there .
It’s not thick as all,,,,,and it is all water jacket .
Like some of the other guys suggested,,,,,if you must use two bolts to mount,,,,,use the water pump bolt mount and add a mount hole up on a head bolt area .

Tommy

 

My goodness! STOP even considering drilling a hole in that location.
It's very bad idea as has been pointed out.

 

Here are a few pics I just took of my 8BA in the same area .
I would bet money they are extremely close to the same blocks as before .
Right about a quarter inch,,,,,give to take a little .
Tommy

 

And there are the pictures proving Roseville Carl's comment that the block is quite thin at that location.

Thanks DeSoto and Carl; that's the info I needed.

 

Your welcome,,,,always trying to help .

Tommy

 

A got to go with don't do it...think about it for a few days and I bet you come with a great way to do using some of the ideas thrown out there by the guys here