leaking soft plug
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Seaside Oregon
leaking soft plug
I pulled my 60 Corvette out of the garage the other day and let it run for ten minutes or so and when I turned it off it was leaking water out of the soft plug behind the starter. I don't drive it much but try to start it every couple weeks and drive it up and down the road. Is there a easy way to fix this without taking the engine out? Its a 68 327 motor. I've had a lot of cars but this is a first for me. Thanks
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 420
Likes: 2
From: America's North Coast Minnesota
Difficulty depends on which one is leaking. Almost all of the time, with patience, you can do them in the car. I am not very familiar with "earlies", but even the midyear ones behind the motor mount are possible. The ones toward the rear are a piece of cake, maybe an hour to replace.
I pulled my 60 Corvette out of the garage the other day and let it run for ten minutes or so and when I turned it off it was leaking water out of the soft plug behind the starter. I don't drive it much but try to start it every couple weeks and drive it up and down the road. Is there a easy way to fix this without taking the engine out? Its a 68 327 motor. I've had a lot of cars but this is a first for me. Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 12,470
Likes: 1,548
From: Camp Verde AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2017 C1 of Year Finalist
You may be able to install one of those rubber bolt expander type plugs with the motor in the car.
You be able to get creative and figure out how to use a hydraulic jack off the frame rail to pusha metal plug in if you can't tap it in with a hammer and plug driver.
You have to be able to get tehhe old one out first.
Of course if one is rusted through, the others are not far behind.
Good luck.
Doug
You be able to get creative and figure out how to use a hydraulic jack off the frame rail to pusha metal plug in if you can't tap it in with a hammer and plug driver.
You have to be able to get tehhe old one out first.
Of course if one is rusted through, the others are not far behind.
Good luck.
Doug
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 622
Likes: 24
From: Clermont Florida
DO NOT, whatever you do, put a rubber freeze plug in that engine. The water pump puts out more pressure than you think. I have had 2 of those plugs blow out under hard acceleration, and empty my engine in seconds. Happened to look back both times, and the cloud of steam clued me in. Could have been a disaster.
The plug is not hard to install, if you are mechanically capable. Probably 1.5-2.0 hours labor at a shop. Rich
The plug is not hard to install, if you are mechanically capable. Probably 1.5-2.0 hours labor at a shop. Rich
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,068
Likes: 27
From: St. Joseph Mo
The key in keeping the rubber plugs in is to use NO Sealant.
Yup, when one leaks another is not far behind. Ended up overhauling the 383 in my '70 Challenger just to replace all the soft plugs.
Yup, when one leaks another is not far behind. Ended up overhauling the 383 in my '70 Challenger just to replace all the soft plugs.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 10
From: california
DO NOT, whatever you do, put a rubber freeze plug in that engine. The water pump puts out more pressure than you think. I have had 2 of those plugs blow out under hard acceleration, and empty my engine in seconds. Happened to look back both times, and the cloud of steam clued me in. Could have been a disaster.
The plug is not hard to install, if you are mechanically capable. Probably 1.5-2.0 hours labor at a shop. Rich
The plug is not hard to install, if you are mechanically capable. Probably 1.5-2.0 hours labor at a shop. Rich
DO NOT USE THOSE RUBBER EXPANDING FREEZE PLUGS. they are crap. i have replaced thousands of freeze plugs on both SB and BB cars. the one behind the starter is a piece of cake. pull the starter and pound the old freeze plug into the block, then pry it out with channel locks and a screwdriver (or just leave it in the block-
). pound in the new one with a 1/2" drive extension, no sealer is needed. the ones under the motor mounts can even be done with the engine in the car (OOPS, thinking C2s). i have NEVER pulled an engine to replace any freeze plug. the one behind the starter should be a 30 minute job tops.TRIVIA: even though everybody calls them "freeze plugs" (and they do serve that purpuse) they are actually core casting plugs (to get the sand out after the block is cast...
