Moss Motors, Ltd

i was wondering if anybody knows what the two large holes on bottom of the block on the corners where the oil pan fits are for. there are no corresponding holes in the pan or gasket and whether or not i should plug them up. thanks alot rrl

     I have not figured out what function the two holes serve other than this may be a designed self oiling feature which allows crank case oil to seep into the bearings.  The two holes are supposed to have a compressed, cotton-like, filter inserted inside.  The filters are about the size of a wooden pencil and approximately 3 inches long.  They are very hard to insert while lying on your back under the engine with the oil pan off.  (dripping oil, filter too big, hole too small, etc.)  I bought to filters at our local parts store in the Kansas City area.

     I pulled the old filters out with a very thin pair of needle nosed pliers.  I remember that there was a popping sound when the filter came out just like when you pull a cork out of a bottle.  That indicated to me that the hole did not have an opening other than where I pulled out the filter.  It is a mystery to me exactly what function this has but I do know that I stuffed the new filter in the holes as best I could (It was akin to stuffing toothpaste into a tube, you see.) and put a new oil pan gasket on, along with the pan itself.  I have driven a few hundred miles since then and do not detect anything abnormal about the engine.  I don't lie awake nights worrying about it but still, I'd like to know it's not going to cause me grief later on. 

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Those aren't filters, just seals between the bearing cap and the block.  Much easier to insert as the main cap is being installed ;)

 

As for the two (2) holes mentioned by the original poster, I suspect they had something to do with positioning the block during the machining process (during production) and serve no purpose when in service.

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Randy
57 Healey 100/6 BN6L-942
61 McCulloch R1 go kart
99 M Roadster (supercharged)
01 M Roadster
11 BMW X5 35i

There function, I think, is to allow oil to leak out of the sump into the bottom of the clutch housing (which has a little hole with a bent cotter pen to allow the oil to dain.)  The oil then lubricates the bottom of the car, chasis rails etc, to keep them from rusting.

Of course, a part of the well known British Anti-Rust System.

 

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Bayless
Never express yourself more clearly than you can think
'48 Prefect
'67 Sprite (project)

Randy Forbes has it right on the nose. In fact, many many engines have similar locator pin holes built onto various areas on the block. They are reference points such that the block can be passed from process to process without losing the "index", or positioning, for machining.

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon