What the heck is the shipping plug?

[Chris H.]

On my 327, forward of the fuel pump, in the AIM is something called a shipping plug. What is this hole for? Access for some machining process?

My engine rebuilder put in some bolt he had to plug it up.

What should it be and should it be painted orange? It is referred to in the AIM but no part number is listed.

thanks, Chris

[Ed Jennings]

Re: What the heck is the shipping plug?

This is a short bolt that plugs the hole. When changing the fuel pump, this bolt can be removed and replaced with a longer one to hold the fuel pump push rod while the pump is installed.

[Mike M.]

Re: What the heck is the shipping plug?

ed's got it right. simply install a short hex head bolt taking care to pick one short enough that it doesn't sieze the fuel pump activating rod then paint it chevy orange.mike

[Chris H.]

Re: What the heck is the shipping plug?

Thanks, why is there no part number in the AIM?

[Mike M.]

Re: What the heck is the shipping plug?

since the bolt was installed on the engine before the engine arrived in st. louis, there won't be a part number in the AIM. parts got part #'s in the AIM if the part was installed on the assembly line in st louis.mike

[Dennis C.]

Can't help but ask...

...that bolt was likely added as the engine asy went on the pallet and was so held by a strap from the pallet to the engine. I question that the shipping bolt was painted engine orange, but rather came from a bolt bin as the engines were palletized. Well, it is a thought...

[Chris H.]

Re: What the heck is the shipping plug?

Then why is it referred to in the AIM? Was there any reason to remove the plug at the assembly plant?

Did the plant remove the plug and then use a special tool to install the fuel pump and then reinstall?

Chris

[Chuck S.]

Re: Can't help but ask...

Dennis, are you saying the strap from the pallet to the engine was retained by this "shipping plug"? Normally, the AIM only identifies fasteners on the engine that must be removed to install other components, and then reused at the same location. I can't find any mention of this shipping plug in my 70 AIM.

[Clem Z.]

Re: What the heck is the shipping plug?

those tapped 3/8"-16 holes in the front of the block were there for the front engine mounts on the early chevy cars,1955 and up.

[Robert Jorjorian]

Re: What the heck is the shipping plug?

Chris
I think the shipping plug is actually just a short 3/8 bolt. That plug (bolt) was removed to install the fuel pump at the plant,then reinstalled because there would be a oil leak if it was not reinstalled.
That is why the AIM lists a torque spec for it after installing the fuel pump(at least in a 63 AIM).

[Michael H.]

Re: What the heck is the shipping plug?

That sounds right. I guess that would explain why the bolt would be painted but the paint would be chipped from the removal and reinstallation.

[John H.]

Re: What the heck is the shipping plug?

That bolt wasn't part of the engine tie-down system in the shipping rack; the multiple-engine rack had pivoting/locking details that clamped it in place (so no tools were required to rack them at 270 per hour).

[Michael H.]

Re: What the heck is the shipping plug?

I agree John, I just don't remember exactly what the system was and I have no pictures of any of that. (it didn't seem important at the time) I'm sure whatever it was, it probably left some marks in the orange paint somewhere. Would be interesting to find out just exactly how they were secured.

I think Jorjorian was refering to removing and reinstalling the front case bolt for fuel pump installation.

Michael

[John H.]

Re: What the heck is the shipping plug?

Yup, should have been more specific in my response - I was referring to Dennis's thought about that bolt possibly being part of the rack retaining system.

It's been a while, but the Flint racks had a pivoting spring-loaded steel arm detail on each side of each engine with a short handle in a tube with a slot in it (like a slide-bolt lock on a shed door) that locked/unlocked the pivot function; they clamped the engine to the rack on each side down around the pan rail area, can't remember the exact locations.

[John H.]

Engine Hook Trivia

Here's a comparison of the typical multi-car line assembly plant's assortment of engine dress line hooks (used to lift the engine out of the shipping rack and to carry the engine down the dress line); 1967 on the left, when there were no engine plant-installed lift brackets, and 1968 on the right, after adopting the engine plant-installed standard-geometry corporate-wide lifting brackets, which only required two hooks to cover all five Division's engines. Made the guy's job easier who hung the engines on the line, made the millwrights happy in the maintenance shop who fabricated the hooks in each plant. St. Louis only needed one. One of our few manufacturing "victories" over the bean-counters from the old days