What is this nut on the right side of the engine block?
 

Mine is dripping oil, about a drip every 10 seconds. I assume this has something to do with the distributor above, but wanted to check before I cranked down on it. I didn't see any description of it in the engine section of my book.

Re: What is this nut on the right side of the engine block?
 

Be sure you have the right thread before you "crank down on it". Sorry, I don't know off hand the correct thread.

Charlie Stephens

Re: What is this nut on the right side of the engine block?
 

That is a plug, a pipe plug 1/8 - 27 . Try to tighten it, it could be that at one time some one put a bolt in there and distorted the threads. I looked closer at your photo, it looks like you have the oil pump holding tool installed in that threaded port, unscrew the large part of it and install a 1/8 - 27 pipe plug. All the vendors have this part, a hardware store will have it too.

Re: What is this nut on the right side of the engine block?
 

It should not be a nut. it is a slotted plug. Thread is course I think.

Re: What is this nut on the right side of the engine block?
 

It Is not a nut it is a plug, the thread is 1/8 - 27, it does not have to be slotted, a hex head plug of the same thread will work. It is a fine thread.

Re: What is this nut on the right side of the engine block?
 

It looks like the distributor lock screw and nut has been installed in error. Like others said, get the 1/8-27 pipe plug and install it.

Re: What is this nut on the right side of the engine block?
 

That sure looks like the oil pump retainer tool to me too. Remove it, keep it for future use, install the correct plug with thread dope.

Re: What is this nut on the right side of the engine block?
 

Before you replace the part, drain the oil and feel around or look the best you can thru the drain hole to make sure the spring is in place that hold the oil pump up into the block. If this is an oil retaining plug, someone may have just forgotten to remove it or could have left the spring off the pump and is using it to hold the pump in place.

Re: What is this nut on the right side of the engine block?
 

Re: What is this nut on the right side of the engine block?
 

The original type plug .
https://www.brattons.com/plug-for-va...-manifold.html