The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop How to remove a freeze plug?

My 216's got a freeze plug in the hole where the crankcase pressure release valve is supposed to be...right by the fuel pump. For some reason, the last owner didn't think this part was necessary..?

How should I remove this plug? Im thinking drill a hole in it, stick a crooked screwdriver-thingy in there, and see if I can work it loose.

Any other thoughts?

not sure about that location, but for regular freeze plugs i sometimes drill a hole and use a slide hammer. if that doesn't work i drive one side in with a chisel and grab the other with a large pair of pliars.

Green 98, sounds like you may be talking about the hole for the draft tube that someone may have stuck a freeze plug into. I'd check this out and see what's up. Sounds like a modification from original, have seen racers do this to eliminate the down tube.

IIRC one of the PVC installation kits required removal of the road draft tube, and blocking the hole with a freeze plug.

Larry

Not sure what you mean by the 'down or draft' tube, but I know its called the crankcase breather / pressure ...etc. On the 216, its located by the fuel pump on the front of the motor. For some reason, ours has been modified and a freeze plug put into the hole.

Check out this pic. Its the long thingy that hangs down below the oil pan and mounts in between the fuel pump and distributor.
[img]http://www.adchevy.com/images/public/chevy216large.jpg[/img]

I found a better picture.
Ours looks just like this one:

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2946665300039612029jriGza

That is the road draft tube you are referring to.

Yep, don't know about Mississippi but every where else it's the road draft tube. It aids in ventilating the crankcase.

I wouldn't drill that with the chance some metal shavings might get in the crankcase, knock a hole in it with a sharp chisel and use the honkin big screw driver to lever it out ... and yes, it's called the road draft tube, no "valve" involved and no pressure possible in the pan if it's working correctly

someone might have removed it cuz they didn't like the truck spotting up their driveway, if there's not some air inlet and a non-stock hose into the air cleaner from somewhere to ventilate the interior, that'll be the reason you need to rebuild the engine

Bill

Good point, I'll knock a hole in it and not use a drill.

Could that be the reason that we've never been able to get our truck running correctly? Our motor gets full compression on all cylinders, doesnt smoke, has new cylinder head and all components, and is timed out correctly, and we've never been able to get the darn thing to run right.

Oh and for the record, it's Mis'sippi down here! (spoken like you have a mouth full of hickory nuts)

I used to date a gal who was miss-hippy.

Well there are a few hippies down here...quite a few from the delta