the holes are locating holes for the framework that carrys the car through the automated welding process at the factory-yes they do perform other funtions later----and the freeze plug holes are for getting the sand out the block after it is cast--being a freezeplug was an after thought-bob
Yeah it was cool to watch the guys throw a section of floor pan or firewall on the jig... they would lay the part on pins that fit the holes so it could be welded to the next section.. quite amazing to watch a car be built from beginning to end when it drives off the line