Freeze plug fail
More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 739
Likes: 256
From: Zimmerman, MN
That all depends on the engine and where it's located. I don't know what engine this is, and I can't tell where it's located in your picture (LH side, RH side, etc), but if you have a straight-on shot it shouldn't be too hard to replace.
If you can't get to it straight-on, you could always install one of the "temporary" expandable plugs. A good friend of mine has been running one of those rubber-expandable plugs in his 440 Mopar for over a decade now, and I give him crap about it all the time. But it's still holding, so if it works, is it really a bad idea? (Swiped from VGG).
You can also buy the copper-expandable plugs, which may seal better...longer. I don't know.
If you can't get to it straight-on, you could always install one of the "temporary" expandable plugs. A good friend of mine has been running one of those rubber-expandable plugs in his 440 Mopar for over a decade now, and I give him crap about it all the time. But it's still holding, so if it works, is it really a bad idea? (Swiped from VGG).
You can also buy the copper-expandable plugs, which may seal better...longer. I don't know.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 246
Likes: 19
That all depends on the engine and where it's located. I don't know what engine this is, and I can't tell where it's located in your picture (LH side, RH side, etc), but if you have a straight-on shot it shouldn't be too hard to replace.
If you can't get to it straight-on, you could always install one of the "temporary" expandable plugs. A good friend of mine has been running one of those rubber-expandable plugs in his 440 Mopar for over a decade now, and I give him crap about it all the time. But it's still holding, so if it works, is it really a bad idea? (Swiped from VGG).
You can also buy the copper-expandable plugs, which may seal better...longer. I don't know.
If you can't get to it straight-on, you could always install one of the "temporary" expandable plugs. A good friend of mine has been running one of those rubber-expandable plugs in his 440 Mopar for over a decade now, and I give him crap about it all the time. But it's still holding, so if it works, is it really a bad idea? (Swiped from VGG).
You can also buy the copper-expandable plugs, which may seal better...longer. I don't know.
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,870
Likes: 2,443
Nah. Piece of chewing gum on there and you should be good to go. Be careful you don’t knock the plug into the block when trying to remove it.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 246
Likes: 19
Not Zebra Stripe though right, only lasts for 3 chews. Thinkin bazooka would give me a week!
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,519
Likes: 2,654
From: Near Salt Lake City
Typical rusted out freeze plug
That is one of the easy ones because it is not behind the motor mount or starter
Try to use a metal one and put a little aviation form a gasket (sealer) around the outside
Install with a socket and a hammer
If you have trouble or ruin a few and are done fighting it
just use a EZ plug (the rubber ones that expand when you tighten the nut)
Those are the ones you use in the middle of winter and you are in a bind
They work for years and years like the metal ones do
The rubber freeze plugs also make it easy to drain the coolant out of the block
They do make a freeze plug installer tool (only works on the easy ones like yours)
I just used to use a 30 inch 1/2 inch drive extension with an impact wobbly on it, with the right size socket that fit inside the freeze plug
That is one of the easy ones because it is not behind the motor mount or starter
Try to use a metal one and put a little aviation form a gasket (sealer) around the outside
Install with a socket and a hammer
If you have trouble or ruin a few and are done fighting it
just use a EZ plug (the rubber ones that expand when you tighten the nut)
Those are the ones you use in the middle of winter and you are in a bind
They work for years and years like the metal ones do
The rubber freeze plugs also make it easy to drain the coolant out of the block
They do make a freeze plug installer tool (only works on the easy ones like yours)
I just used to use a 30 inch 1/2 inch drive extension with an impact wobbly on it, with the right size socket that fit inside the freeze plug
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 246
Likes: 19
Typical rusted out freeze plug
That is one of the easy ones because it is not behind the motor mount or starter
Try to use a metal one and put a little aviation form a gasket (sealer) around the outside
Install with a socket and a hammer
If you have trouble or ruin a few and are done fighting it
just use a EZ plug (the rubber ones that expand when you tighten the nut)
Those are the ones you use in the middle of winter and you are in a bind
They work for years and years like the metal ones do
The rubber freeze plugs also make it easy to drain the coolant out of the block
They do make a freeze plug installer tool (only works on the easy ones like yours)
I just used to use a 30 inch 1/2 inch drive extension with an impact wobbly on it, with the right size socket that fit inside the freeze plug
That is one of the easy ones because it is not behind the motor mount or starter
Try to use a metal one and put a little aviation form a gasket (sealer) around the outside
Install with a socket and a hammer
If you have trouble or ruin a few and are done fighting it
just use a EZ plug (the rubber ones that expand when you tighten the nut)
Those are the ones you use in the middle of winter and you are in a bind
They work for years and years like the metal ones do
The rubber freeze plugs also make it easy to drain the coolant out of the block
They do make a freeze plug installer tool (only works on the easy ones like yours)
I just used to use a 30 inch 1/2 inch drive extension with an impact wobbly on it, with the right size socket that fit inside the freeze plug
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,519
Likes: 2,654
From: Near Salt Lake City
You will be taking a bath in coolant. There is no way around it that I have found
The plug will fall down, but not far enough for you not to be able to pull it out with channel locks
Use some Emory cloth for the rust around the ring before the new one goes in
The plug will fall down, but not far enough for you not to be able to pull it out with channel locks
Use some Emory cloth for the rust around the ring before the new one goes in
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,519
Likes: 2,654
From: Near Salt Lake City
Thanks for that. Now, I will for sure be replacing the ones in my Big Block Chev before I put it in my 68 Camaro
Thanks
Picture of the Chevelle?
My 68 is at the body shop and I only have a few photos of the heap
Bought it last year after fixing it for the guy
Thanks
Picture of the Chevelle?
My 68 is at the body shop and I only have a few photos of the heap
Bought it last year after fixing it for the guy
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 476
Likes: 93
If you're "budget conscious", or miles from home, sand the hell out of it to give it some tooth and to remove paint or whatever. Wash it with something that rinses clean like dish soap or Simple green. Then pack some JB Weld in there. That can get you home, and probably a few miles further.
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