modifying block to match head gasket

[wallace]

I put the mls gasket for the 2.4 and marked the spots that need to be modified today. I've searched and come up with some pics but I still have a question. On the exhaust side of the gasket almost in the middle of the # 4 cylinder is a port that doesn't have any appearance on the block. It is perfectly round. If I drill it it looks like it might be close to the edge of the gasket. Has anyone else seen this? Did you drill it? The gasket and head came off of a 2.4l. It is DOHC. Thanks!

[russ jerome]

I know the spot your talking about, it's a coolant passage.

I have skipped it on my block's with no heating/cooling
issue's. I've gone so far as to drill out rivet's on the MLS
and enlargen the holes to distribute water more evenly
but I dont think cooling is an issue with the swap, never
a problem at 100+ mph freeway speed with a little Omni
radiator.

[wallace]

Good deal, I was thinking that mabye it wouldn't be an issue but it never hurts to ask. I am hopefully going to get all of the necessary tapping/plugging on the head and block done this weekend and then it's off to the machine shop for prep. Did you use factory springs on your head or did you upgrade them? Thanks so much for the info.

[russ jerome]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallace Did you use factory springs on your head or did you upgrade them? .

Stock everything.....we're just cheap that way (read: poor).