> >> > > Armand, thank you. But I have a question: Since the aluminum blocks where die cast (presumably molten aluminum was injected into a die under pressure) why was a core hole necessary? > > Joe Fulton Sorry Joe, I just realized I didn't directly answer your question. From what I've been able to gather, many newer aluminum engines, and some cast iron engines too, no longer have core holes. I was asking a mechanic about installing a block heater in the core plug hole and he said, on that particular GM V-6 the only core holes were behind the flex plate at the back of the engine, where it was not possible to install a heater. I think that melting out foam core method has been used for quite some time actually, and many of the core holes have been eliminated. To be very honest with you , I've never really looked that closely at the side of many of the modern engines to actually verify that ! And didn't really care ! Most of the V-6s I've seen out of cars were covered in goo and were obviously mistreated. Why do my posts get so dang lengthy? I must need some AMC fellowship and warm weather. Armand > > > > _______________________________________________ > AMC-list mailing list > AMC-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx > http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com > > > -- > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.560 / Virus Database: 270.12.26/2116 - Release Date: 5/15/09 6:16 AM > > _______________________________________________ AMC-list mailing list AMC-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com