Hi all, haven't posted for a while as I've had the old FE360 sat asleep while I build the chassis for it. Anyway, I started to tidy it up a bit ready to use it, see what it goes like, see if it needs a a rebuild or if it can be used as is for a while. After popping out the rusty old freeze plugs I notice a steel rod behind the drivers side centre freeze plug hole, running vertically.

What's it for? It is maybe 3/16" diameter.


I've also had a problem putting new freeze plugs in, as I measured the old ones and assumed they were 1 3/4", but they aren't, are they...

So, now I've ordered a set of real Ford brass plugs, 1 49/64"

 

Those are called "chaplets". They were just used to help coreshift and support the cyl jacket mold while the molton iron was poured. They are pretty common to find and they really don't hurt anything. There are also "core bolts" which were used to screw the mold together before casting.

 

Thanks for the info.
I was wondering what on earth a length of steel would be doing inside the block, but secretly hoping it would identify my rusty old 360 as some prototype racing motor.

 

Well Just a slight correction here for my Bud Glenn...Those are actually weightlets !!! Because the FE's at that time were so Damn fast !! The Extra wire weights in the blocks to help slow and weight them down some!!

As the motor gets older and with regular changes and coolant flush's...the material comes out.....and therefore you end up with a lighter and faster engine!!

~Russ

I should get some good Rep points for this one!! LOL

 

ROFLMAO!!!

 

I was told they were anodic material to keep the water jacket from rusting too much... Hmpf

Are they really STEEL?

 

Nope they were made of nickel and that's where the high nickel content comes from.

 

Your all wrong...

They are emergency poles, ala fire department poles for electrons to slide down when the water gets to hot.

 

I think there GOLD Filled too boot !!

~Russ

 

Too funny guys, must be a turkey high.

 

WRONG!!!!! There are tiny Exotic dancers in every FE engine, it was a joint effort with Cracker Jacks® "toy surprise inside" this is getting so out there lol

 

So just to recap.....

They are high performance weightlets made out of steel, nickel and gold filled. Used as emergency poles for the electrons and tiny strippers to slide down from Cracker Jacks when the water gets too hot? Me thinks some of those tiny strippers might not look so good some 40 years later??

 

Yeah their highlands are probably down by their lowlands.

 

This thread has kept this old man laughing all day.

 

Lol at you guys !!!


If you take them out, snip them off, dont break them off as they will leave a shallow dimple in the cylinder wall.


Richard.