Engine Gurus UNITE!!!!

[englewoodcowboy]

I tore my 91 sbf down today and noticed several metal rods in the deck going through the coolant passages. You can see one in the left corner of the freeze plug opening in the photo below. What are they for?

 

[Wyflyer]

I never knew but strongly suspected they were sacrificial anodes, to protect the block from corrosion.
I'd like to hear for sure

 

[englewoodcowboy]

I will get some better pics tomorrow but they are in all of the jackets and you can see on the deck where they were drilled and pressed in. I too assume they are sacrificial for electrolysis protection but would like to know for certain.

 

[mattt]

I noticed them in a BBF 460 I was rebuilding a while ago and I was told....

That "tube" or "rod" is a casting probe used by the foundry to more accuratly locate casting cores. Once the block is cast they serve no further purpose.

 

[Hozr]

The rods hold the water jacket cores in place during the casting process. They serve no functional purpose after casting but if you try to remove them you WILL have water leaks!

 

[englewoodcowboy]

The rods hold the water jacket cores in place during the casting process. They serve no functional purpose after casting but if you try to remove them you WILL have water leaks!

That makes a lot of sense. I was wondering that or if the were sacrificial. No intention of removing them, the block will be heading to the machinist soon.