I don't have access to a digital camera right now, I know it would help. 1. Just behind the distributor there is a hole in the top of the block, a little bigger than the distributor hole. Inside you can see the top of the road draft tube and towards the distributor there's a vent to the crankcase. What covers/caps/ fits in this hole? Pics would be GREAT! 2. Can someone give me the specs for TRW L2038 forged pistons? I'm trying to determine the compression height without pulling the piston.
That is a crank case vent. And you should have a tube that fits in there and runs down towards the ground along the bellhousing or transmission case. There will be a bolt that goes in the top of the tube to secure it in the hole...ghost
That's where the draft tube bolts in. I just found one this weekend after looking for about a year. It was missing from my 283 when I bought it. Mine is actually capped off right now( not on the road yet). I'll post a picture later unless someone beats me to it.
Get your ass in gear, you got a week and 3 days to get that car ready to drive to Roundup. No excuses. If you need a road draft tube I can loan you one. Call me if you need anything or have any questions.
Thanks BELLM, that carb base is going work nicely. You can thank Performance Machine for my last minute thrashing. I was told my heads would be done last week. Here's some pics. I've been told by a couple people that the hole is where the tube bolts in, but they looked at me crazy when I told them the tube was already installed in the back of the block. You can see that my grandpa put a rubber freeze plug in the case vent since he used a PCV valve and breather with the modern valve covers. I've googled all night, does anybody know where I can find some specs on old TRW pistons?
just got done with a 265 in my 50 shoebox didn't have room for the stock vent tube, turned a piece of nylon bar stock with a flange to fit the hole drilled it out and put a PVC valve in it plumbed to the base of the carb.
Ok, heres the scoop on your road draft tube. I remember that the early blocks (with no integral oil filter) had the road draft tube built into the rear of the block. I called a friend who has a restored 55 and he confirmed that the hole in the top of the block has a core hole plug installed (dish style freeze plug). Hope this answers that part of your question.
Where the rubber plug is in the picture, there was a can shaped filter of sorts that fit in that hole and was bolted to a boss in the valley of the engine. The can had a screen on the end. The filter stopped oil from being pushed out the road draft tube. Joe
Yeah, that's Hitler, he wouldn't move. (No offense to any jewish HAMBers) He's a badass. He has 3 rattlesnakes including one bite, numerous jackrabbits and just about every mouse in Williamson county under his belt. I do what HE says.
Yeah Rueben always has pussy following him around!! I will bring both pieces Thursday night just in case, the one in the photo goes inside the block, the other, pictured in another reply, goes outside.
To clear up some of the confusion...and expand on "lowride's" correct answer: You have a '55 block with no external oil filter on the block. It looks like you already have the road draft tube in place, which is the tube that goes through the block and exits at the bottom of the block next to the oil pan where the oil filter would normally be. Since you already have the road draft tube (pictured in post #6), all you need is a freeze plug to fit the hole in the top of the block behind the distributor, and the corresponding canister (pictured in post #16) that slips into the hole facing to the rear inside the lifter valley. '55 265 is a one year only block, and has a different road draft and oil filter set-up than any other small block Chevrolet.
Got you covered, Cindy saw my note to myself when she came in from work, note was "Boob Parts". fortunately she already knew your HAMB name so I didn't get in trouble.
Are the pistons in the block already? Do you have any volume figures for the combustion chambers yet? You can check the compression ratio easily enough with pistons at 100 thou below the deck height.
I never pulled the pistons I just got the heads back from the masheen chop last night, should have them measured tonight. Could you tell me how? I just want to know a rough figure, maybe to a half point.
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