The hole is finish machined like a freeze plug hole. I didn't find a shallow expansion plug, but the regular expansion plug didn't protrude into the pushrod area. The Expand-tite did, I'm going to try cutting down the rubber and see if it will work. Otherwise, back to the RTV.

I didn't try to find the next size up expansion plug to see if it would fit (25/32", I guess), maybe I should try that.

Got the intake off of the C engine last night. Turning it over, only the valves of the first two cylinders move - broken cam. Are these non-interference engines? If I can replace the cam & bearings, the engine should be good to go again.

The rubber plug didn't work, interferred with the gasket. So, cleaned up the hole with brake cleaner and tried RTV again. Here'* the L engine ready for the C intake.


Discovered one other difference between the engines, won't affect me. The mount bolts between the engine and transmission case (not the bell housing). The C engine:


The L engine:


If you wanted to put a C engine in an L system, you'd either have to settle for two bolts, or have the 3rd one drilled & tapped.

Looks good so far. Quick question or thought that I had. The PCV is what you are sealing off so you can use a pcv setup externally right? In that case then there'* no problem, I was thinking you were going to end up with pressure and that your freeze plug depending how well it seals might cause you issues.

However it sounds and looks good.

Yes, using the C external PCV system, meaning I needed to move the front valve cover over to the L engine (forgot to mention that). Actually, both L valve covers were damaged, so I needed to move both of them over, anyway.

In this process, I also realized I'd never looked for the PCV valve on the C engine, didn't know where it was, even though I've owned one or another of these engines since 1996. It'* got a new valve now.

One other difference I discovered that I forgot to mention is the coolant bypass is larger on the L engine. Fortunately, the intake fitting is removable, and the same threads on both intakes.

This is very exciting... similar to Randy'* conversion of that series car to a Series II. This will give more possiblities to those with high mileage motors and a love for their cars.

Do you think the open valves were smacked by pistons on the old engine?

And it all started because I was too stupid to know they were different engines...