After having searched through this site and around the internet to try and determine if there was such a thing as a drain plug for the coolant on the 302 engine block/heads. (as referenced in the haynes manual)

The consensus seems to be that such a thing doesn't exist and the only way to drain the coolant is to just open the petcock on the bottom of the radiator.

WELL, I drained the water out in preparation for the freeze the last few nights, since I've been broke and haven't been able to put antifreeze into this vehicle which hasn't been running and on the road since I've been working on it....

AND IT FROZE in the block and popped two freeze plugs and has either damaged one of the head gaskets or cracked the block/head.

So while I'm cussing and under there replacing the freeze plugs and preparing for the head gasket replacement (and hoping that the problem is not more serious) guess what I found......

A DRAIN PLUG. it's about as big around as a dime, it's got a depression in it's center for an allen wrench to be used on it and it's threaded into the "outer" (IE towards the wheels rather than toward the vehicle's center) side of the block, aft of the exhaust manifold, just in front of where the block meets with the bellhousing.

I'll get a picture of it if anyone would like.....

Is this the mythical engine block drain plug??? If so, there is going to be bit of scathing review concerning the poindexters who are advising people on this site and others that there is no drain plug other than the one on the bottom of the radiator. I may have a cracked block here and while I know that you can't trust anything you read, even when it comes from experienced and long time contributors to this forum..... I was mystified that I wasn't able to find anything other than the information that "the engine block drain plug does not exist" all around the internet.

Any thoughts???

 

Yep, one on each side, the starter hides the one...open at your own risk

 

I assumed the 302 had em I know the 351 has one on each side and are located exactly where you state you found them on your motor.
Know they where there from motor swaps and I made use of them drain the block down, make it easier heat up remove exhaust manifold bolts when replacing them, as act of draining the block drains the heads with it.

While I never actually looked at my 460 to see if it has them, had no need yet to use them yet, always assumed it'd have them as well.

 

Much appreciated, Fellas!

Hopefully this thread might show up in somebodies search results if they're looking into this in the future.... Save them the trouble that I'm having now.

Also, SlipFordMan, what do you mean when you say "Open at your own risk"??

Is it likely to round off or strip it's threads or something? Or are you just referring to how it pours antifreeze all over your face? LOL


Anyway.... Thanks a lot guys!

 

No, it's just that I toyed with the idea of opening them a few weeks ago, when I back flushed my system. I decided that it would be too risky, with possibly ripping the threads out from 19 years of fusion

 

Should be solid brass and should come out easy as mine did as brass doesn't corrode.

 

No it was the block threads that had me chicken out.

 

Yea that is what I mean, the plug being solid brass doesn't corrode and fuse to the cast of the block.
It unscrewed like it had been out yesterday, did nothing to the plug or block.

Had it felt like it was going to be hard to unscrew yea I would had stopped right then, soon as I attempted turn it it moved. I knew at that point it be alright to remove it. Couldn't right of tell it was brass until after I had it out, all crusty looking and then painted over to start with.

 

Good to know! thanks

 

Not that it helps now, but I've simply pulled the lower radiator hose to get the antifreze (or water) out of the block. Will you get that much more out by unscrewing the drain plug?

- Revs

 

Yep, lots more plus the crap

 

Yea I've done it that way too, gets a lot of it out but not all of it.

When I was a kid couldn't afford that liquid gold they call automotive antifreeze not have it leak out. When had a leaky one but had to drive it anyway I'd filled em and kept em topped off with windshield washer fluid. Back then was like what 80cent gal so it was cheap run it with no water added to it. Got me by until I could replace a radiator with pin hole for example new to me truck, cheap enough fluid no big deal it constantly leaked out as I drove! (leave cap loose so no added pressure)
Not as low freeze point with it but never had one freeze while driving one or while sat parked for the night, was a better alternative to using plain water.

Oh yes takes me back the good ole days!

 

Good info.! I didn't know about this! It seems no matter how much I flush the radiator, and with those in-line flush kits; there is still gunk left in the engine! (PO was negligent)
Next flush, I'm gonna use them.

 

I think that the passenger side block plug is actually forward of the starter.

 

Good to know!...next flush I will open them.