It's the 5.2L V8, it has what looks like a casting hole in the bottom of the block, but it's open? I found another hole but it has a plug in it. Should I be concerned?? It's on the drivers side between the oil pan and tranny on the block.

 

Mine has it, but i figured everything else is leaking, whats the difference?

Ron

 

That hole is for machining purposes, that is where a jig holds the block.

 

so every 5.2 has it? I shouldn't worry about the open hole?

 

Nothing to worry about.

 

Just about every engine produced today by automated machinery has dowel pin locations for set-up of the block for different machining operations. These pins locate the raw casting on a jig so everything is machined in it's proper locations. They are usually about 3/4" in diameter in the US, probably metric overseas. Usually the oil pan surface is machined first, then the holes are put in, then the rest is done off those locations.