ok, should have bookmarked it. tried a half dozen searches. need the thread(s) on removing the sludge plugs in the crank and how to clean out the sludge. can anyone help me find the threads? thanks, dick r.

 

Does your crank have threaded or press-in plugs? Threaded are problematic, honestly I'd pay an experience machinist to get them out without damaging the crank. Press-in plugs are easily enough pulled by tapping them and threading in a bolt to yank them out.

Cleaning involves rifle brushes, lots of solvent, blowing out, more solvent, then warm soapy water final wash with blowing out til dry.

 

ross, thanks, as always, for answering my questions. just noticed i said crank case instead of crankshaft in the title. thanks for reading it anyway. we do have the pressed in plugs. i'm not sure where to find new ones, thinking napa?? our machine shop said solvent also, i asked him what he recommended, he said, gumout. i said "like degreaser?" he said, "yes, don't get the foaming kind." understandable. is that what you meant by solvent?? if not, what is good. thanks again for helping me out. dick r.

 

Lots of people sell the replacement plugs, but mostly to shops directly. I want to say it's Clevite but don't recall exactly.

Yes, a hydrocarbon-based solvent, like Stoddard or kerosene, mineral spirits, etc. Keep in mind much of the sludge contains lead and may be absorbed thru the skin. Personally I would want a machine shop to pull, clean, and replace the plugs, if they have flathead experience. If they are going to be polishing or cutting the crank, you want the passages cleaned after that, and I'd want them to "own" everything to do with the crank in case there are later issues.

 

thanks ross, for the continued good advice. my friend who will be doing the reassembly has done many flatheads years ago. we took our block and crank in to a local machine shop at the end of january. just got it back yesterday, when he told us to pull the plugs and clean out the sludge. we don't dare give it back to him. thanks for the warning about the lead in the sludge, we'll take precautions re: that. i'll check napa then internet for the plugs, last resort i'll ask our shop. Sunday we'll start on the sludge job. dick r.