2.3L ('83-'97) Help Identifing a hole in engine block

[Quaker]

Hello,

I am just finishing up with an engine rebuild on my 1983 Ford Ranger. The engine is the 2.3L and I noticed that there is a threaded hole just above and to the right of the dipstick, I'll attach a picture. Does anyone know what goes here? Does it just need to be plugged? Thanks for any help!

 

[Dirtman]

It just gets plugged with an npt pipe plug. I do not know its actual purpose, might just be a block drain but I've never seen that port used for anything.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I don't know for sure... but with that flat sealing surface... my guess is that it isn't NPT. But again... I don't know for certain.


@scotts90ranger knows his was way around these... maybe he can chime in.

 

[Dirtman]

Its NPT on the one in my shed.

 

[Uncle Gump]

okie dokie...

I didn't want to question you... but the flat sealing surface made me do it.

Edit... just seems strange for a NPT hole.

 

[Dirtman]

That surface isnt machined on the block I have but mine is also earlier, they may have machined it for something at some point but I doubt they changed the threads. I've worked on a bunch of these engines and never seen anything there except a old fashion pipe plug.

 

[scotts90ranger]

It's been about 4 years since I was that deep into a 2.3L and don't have any blocks easy to look at... but looking at the two pictures above it looks to be in line with the oil galley so it's probably part of a machining process for that and most likely has all of the oil pressure against it hence a pipe plug instead of a freeze plug.

 

[wcurtin1962]

Maybe for the turbo 2300?

 

[scotts90ranger]

The extra hole on a turbo block is on the passenger side a couple inches above the oil pan for the turbo oil drainback, the oil galley side is the same they just have a tee into the oil pressure sensor for the turbo oil supply.