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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 25 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 25 | I just purchased a new GM crate engine (sbc 350 long block). After taking out the old engine and installing the new one, I dropped a plug down the temperature hole above #1 and #3 spark plug and can not get it out!!! I was going to plug the hole and the plug was too small. Has anyone got any ideas on getting it out?
Last edited by Waggy; 05/19/2012 4:42 AM.
Waggy
Chev- Sedan 36,Apache 59,Longhorn 69, Chrysler 300 - 1970 conv, Ford Prefect 49, International L130 1950
Surrey, BC, Canada
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,061 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,061 | Hy Waggy, is it an iron/steel plug, or a brass one? | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | Use a piece of stiff wire like a clothes hanger, and some 5-minute epoxy. Glue the wire to the plug, take a break for about an hour to let it set thoroughly, then come back and gently ease the plug out of the hole.
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!
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 25 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 25 | It is iron/steel but I can not see the thing. The engine is in the car now.
Waggy
Chev- Sedan 36,Apache 59,Longhorn 69, Chrysler 300 - 1970 conv, Ford Prefect 49, International L130 1950
Surrey, BC, Canada
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | It can get to far, as mentioned above use a piece of stiff wire with a small hook on the end. Take your time feeling around for it. Once you find it do as Jerry mentions with the epoxy. If things go really good you might hook onto it and be able to slowly pull it up towards the hole, then have a magnet handy to grab onto it. Good Luck, Don | | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 4,886 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 4,886 | It won't go any were that cause damage to the coolant system, so just leave it if its going to require tearing the engine down.
Joe | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 | I would make sure to get it out using some of the already mentioned suggestions. You don't need some random plug rattling around in there. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | Too many bad possibilities of creating circulation problems and hot spots around the combustion chamber(s). Get it out, even if it means pulling a cylinder head. Gaskets are cheaper than a burned up engine!
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!
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 25 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 25 | What really hurts is that I just purchased it so I did not have to tear the old one down and now this!
Waggy
Chev- Sedan 36,Apache 59,Longhorn 69, Chrysler 300 - 1970 conv, Ford Prefect 49, International L130 1950
Surrey, BC, Canada
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 25 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 25 | I went into a number of stores and purchased a selection of magnets! Two of them were broken but I just wanted the end piece. I needed one that would fit in to the hole and I could control. There was one that the extension rod (handle) was coming out of the magnetic head, so I purchased it. I took the extension out, took Hotrod Lincoln suggestion and epoxied a wire to the magnetic head. I was then able to bend the wire and side it down the inside and get the plug. After a number of tries, it is out. Thank you all!!!!!
Waggy
Chev- Sedan 36,Apache 59,Longhorn 69, Chrysler 300 - 1970 conv, Ford Prefect 49, International L130 1950
Surrey, BC, Canada
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 457 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 457 | Congratulations, and celebrate with the beverage of your choice!!!!
We have all had situations like that, so a happy ending is a celebration!!!
1940 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup "KC"
A day without sunshine is like, well, ..... dark!
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | "I love it when a plan comes together!"
Now, go have a couple of cold ones to celebrate!
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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