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Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for
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#80943 08/03/2007 5:03 PM | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 82 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 82 | Conituing saga of a newbie, My 58'235 runs well now thanks to all of you and now I am noticing coolant leak under the manifold on the block, seems to be near a circular indention about the size of a silver dollar. Is that a freeze plug? And if so, what next??
I also noticed that my water pump continues to leak as well so I know I have to change that out. | | |
#80944 08/03/2007 5:43 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,742 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,742 | Yep, that's a "freeze plug", although it isn't there to protect the block from cracking when the coolant freezes, like some people believe. The holes are there so the foundry can knock the sand out of the cooling passages after the block is cast. Then the openings are machined true and steel plugs are driven in when the engine is built up at the factory. After some time, they rust out and leak. Drive a hole in the bad plug with a sharp punch and pry it out, then drive a new one into place with a little Permatex on the edge as a sealer. There are rubber expansion-type plugs available to replace freeze plugs in tight places if it's not convenient to put a drive-in plug back into place. Wnen I do an out-of-frame rebuild, I replace all the freeze plugs with brass ones that resist rusting.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
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#80945 08/03/2007 5:46 PM | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | Purney,
It sounds like you have it nailed. Soft plugs are that size, are in that vicinity...and they do get pin holes in them. Make 99% sure it isn't dribbling down from somewhere else before you spear the soft plug and pry it out. If accessible, a new one is relatively easy to install. Brass ones are available is you feel frisky. If you can't get a clear shot at it with a hammer to install the new one, I think they make rubber expansion types that work OK.
Maybe you could do the water pump and soft plug at the same time to save dumping the system twice. Good luck and make sure that water isn't coming from somewhere ABOVE the soft plug!
Stuart | | |
#80946 08/03/2007 6:18 PM | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 82 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 82 | Thanks guys,hopefully I can pull this off without much more effort or $$$$! Good advice on doing both at the same time. | | |
#80947 08/03/2007 8:12 PM | Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,437 Moderator - The Electrical Bay | | Moderator - The Electrical Bay Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,437 | easy money.. hopefully, it is easy to get to. I've got one leaking on the front of my "cookie cutter" 350, but I dont worry about it, as that engine will be replaced with a 327 in the near future!.
Another quality post.
Real Trucks Rattle
HELP! The Paranoids are after me!
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