Well, It's been unusually cold (for here) the past few days. Truck has been sitting...as it usually does. I noticed a little puddle of water under it this afternoon and noticed it was coming from behind the motor mounts on both sides. Cranked it up and the water started pouring out. Are there freeze plugs directly behind the motor mounts on a 302? Either way, it's no bueno.

 

Yep here's some photos where you can see them in between the motor mount bosses: Ford 302 5.0 Remanufactured Engine - Los Angeles Machine Shop- Engine Rebuilder|Auto Parts Store

 

3 expansion plugs per side. Given the engine perch (mount) location, two aft (to the rear of) the perch's on either side.

 

I just got through replacing all the freeze plugs in my 86 ranger. Whoever had it before me never took care of the coolant, it would not even drain out of the radiator when I first got the truck, the bottom of the radiator was filled with rust/sediment. After a year of messing with it and flushing it out(the heater core kept clogging up) I finally got it cleaned up and that's when the freeze plugs started to leak. They were rusted through. Tried the rubber plug versions since I could not get to them, and those kept popping out in the most inappropriate times.

I finally pulled the engine to replace them, glad I did this engine had one inside the bellhousing area and it was leaking also.

 

I guess I have a really good excuse to pull the engine now. I have a small rear main leak but it wasn't worth pulling it...until now. Sucks, I finally got all of the gremlins worked out where I could actually drive it on the weekends. Now it shall sit...again.

 

Get under there and eyeball it, maybe you have room to get them in and out with the engine in the truck. I didn't on mine. If you take the exhaust manifolds off it may give you more room, but that can be a can of worms in itself.

 

Now you know why they make anti-freeze. If you don't use anti-freeze drain the water each night.


I also have a car that the cooling system was mud and all the cleaning, new water pumps & radiators could not keep it from over heating. Think there is still mud that flushing can not get out or head ports are plugged.

It also would leak from the casting plugs because they rested out. Yes they are casting plugs but are sometimes called freeze plugs and the part is an expansion plug. Oh it also has 1 head casting plug that rusted out.


Because the v8 motor is in a small body car it is even a pain to pull motor/trany and why it sits.
I also used the rubber type think 4 of them just so I could run the motor to move the car. Install 1 rubber and a few weeks later another would leak.


Dave ----

 

Mine were a pain to knock in. See if you can get the brass ones if you are going through the trouble to fix them.
I went the easy way and used the rubber plugs that you tighten with a wrench. Worked for a long time with no problems.

 

It's times like this when I wish FTE had a "Thumbs Down" button...Consider the time of year ?? Being in VA, thought You might...guess not. Easier said than done. Oh yeah ! Crawl under there in 3 inches of snow and ice and eyeball it while you suffer from hypothermia ! Suck it up !....Are You retired Franklin ?
No disrespect intended, just curious given your recent responses to numerous responses in recent threads.

 

Hay it gets cold down here and a little snow at times too.
Monday I was at a place at 10am it was 10* and 6" snow on the ground
At 5pm at a place it was 30* and getting colder and no snow.


But I see your point if he is sitting in front of a nice fire place
Dave ----

 

Yep .....toasty with no effort...

 

*update*

I'm in the final stages of "project freeze plugs" and reassembling everything before I drop the motor back in. I need some help with the alternator bracket though...

My plan is to ditch the old bracket that used to hold the smog pump or air pump and the alternator and clean it up with a simple alternator only bracket. I ordered a bracket from Summit for the 302 and can't seem to find a good way to make everything line up.

Here is a picture (not my motor) that I found using the exact bracket that I got. This config would work, but my alternator has the fins(fan blades) on it so they end up making contact with the adjustment arm as pictured. As you can see, the alternator in the picture only has a pulley so it has more clearance.

Is there any way around this, to make this bracket work?

 

Go to the parts store and look on their chrome/Mr Gasket area. They usually have a chrome one hanging there, and the slot on it is curved. I have used this piece on several different occasions. You cut it to length, drill a new hole, and if you need to put it in the vise and bend a offset in it with a hammer. I never worry about the chrome, I just want the piece of metal with the long curved slot in it.

Look up Mr Gasket 5891 Here's a picture of it. Like I said, don't worry about the length, just get a hacksaw and cut it off to what you need.

 

What size are the freeze plugs at the front of the heads ('81 302)?