Crappy part is I’m just short of having the suction tube drilled all the way out. But i do not want to go any further and take a chance of busting through suction tube anymore.
Jim Weise has an excellent thread about oil mods on the 400/430/455: https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/400-430-455-block-id-prep-and-oiling-mods.214613/ He specifically mentions this issue and has a solution: "Early blocks (400 and 430) can break thru the passage casting, into the inside of the block. If this happens, don't freak out.. it's pretty easy to repair this. So after your panic attack subsides.. continue drilling the long suction hole until you intersect the hole from the pickup. Now, go to McDonald's, order nuggets and your favorite sauce, and calm down more.. ....then once your blood pressure is back to normal stop by your local hardware store. Most all of them I have been in, have a "specialty metal" selection, and you will find thin wall brass tubing, in 12" lengths.. Buy a length of the 5/8 od size. Now go to the auto parts store.. and pick up a little tube of Green Loctite.. this is "sleeve retainer". Also get a small card of JB weld.. Back at home, measure how much tube length you need.. the ones I have seen break thru, do so about right in the middle of the passage. Now, cut the tubing 1" longer than you need to cover the break thru area. Do it nice and square, and don't crush the tubing.. which is tough, but we will handle that later.. do the best you can. Now tap your tubing into place, with the factory uncut end going in first.. and just before it goes all the way in, put some of the green loctite on just the last 1/2 of tubing... just a couple drops is plenty. Then tap it flush to the block. About now your asking "why not put the whole 12 inches in... it will fit...".. and the answer is that in my experience, you typically won't get it all in.. because the passage is not drilled straight, and the tubing is a bit delicate.. you just end up flaring the end out and making a mess out of the whole deal. Better to just use what you need. Now, after the tube is flush, find a nice tapered punch in your toolbox, and use that to flare the brass sleeve out to be tight with the block at the face... simply insert it in the brass tube, and then lightly tap it after it seats on the taper. This will take care of any "muck up" of the end you did, when cutting it. Now mix up enough JB weld to seal the area where the brass tube is now showing thru.. this is just extra insurance against air leaks in the suction system here. Roll the block over on your ending stand when doing this, so gravity works with you, and the JB weld settles around the tubing/block casting with gravity... follow the instructions on the product, the surfaces have to be clean for the JB weld to stick. Once the JB weld has set up then one final thing.. Air pressure test your work... simply block the pickup tube inlet, and pressurize the suction passage.. a big rubber tip airgun and compressed air work great. Now head to your local Ice cream retailer, and buy yourself a treat, for a job well done! "
Ok lucky i punched all the way with 5/8” drill and only have that little pin hole and the bolt hole i will use a stud! Thanks for the suggestion
I don't think you will need a stud for that. If you follow Jim's directions there will be a sleeve protecting that area too. When you apply the JB Weld to the pinhole, you could also drip a bit down into the bottom of the pan bolt hole. When you are done, you do the suction test as Jim describes, and you are good to go.
Yes I ended up doing exactly that and having pretty good luck putting jb weld down the screw hole and over the pin hole. Letting it sit for the night and pressure test it tomorrow. Hopefully success!
Well block is at machine shop to get bored and decked. Showed them the two pin holes leaks and what everyone has said that this Can happen on the 430 blocks. They seemed way more concerned about the pin hopes being jb welded due to being exposed to the oil and heat Long term.. what’s your Guys thoughts? And its on the suction side as well. I would have a bit more concern if this always saw pressure from the discharge of the pump Ryan
I don’t see any way it could be sucked into the pump, as the tube protects the low pressure side. Even if it flaked off, I don’t think it could get to the pump. I think you are good.
JB Weld is not affected by hot oil. I used it on my last 350 when I discovered a pinhole in the passage going down to #5 main, I used JB Weld on that and it held up great for years, as a matter of fact it’s still on there
For BQuick. I’m up here in Alaska.. 91-92 is the highest we get up here.. you think i need to have additional additive with pump gas?
Do you know what detonation sounds like? If you hear it, it is pretty bad. You don't want to operate an engine, any engine with detonation. Generally, it isn't a problem with regular driving, but if you operate at sustained wide open throttle under high load, it can happen, and you might not hear it, especially with loud exhaust. Too much ignition timing, lean fuel mixtures, and high coolant temperatures can induce it. Aluminum heads are much more octane tolerant. Zero deck height helps as well. If you ever run it down the track, add Race Gas as cheap insurance.
I've usually only drilled my small-holed big blocks to 9/16" instead of 5/8" just to be on the safe side. Never had a blow out or an oiling issue while still using the 5/8" pickup.
I would really recommend finding a 455 at this point. Your piston options are so much better with a 455 and I wouldn't use that block with the oil hole..
Yes I wish a had been a bit more conservative and went 9/16”. As of going to a 455, yes that would be nice but 1 I live in AK and buick blocks are not as easy to find up here and 2 i realize i have a pin hole leak but i don’t think that’s going to really effect performance. I really just doing a stock rebuild to finally be able to enjoy my car. I have had just headaches with a terrible rebuild by a guy i thought knew how to rebuild buicks. My mistake on that. I just want to get this car back up and running so I can hopefully convince my wife that it is a good car! As of now she is getting sick of the “ buick” haha.
