Freeze Plug removal
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 5
From: Brown Summit North Carolina
Freeze Plug removal
I have removed most of the freeze plugs from a 350 block.
But I have encountered a speed bump. The rear plugs on both sides of the block are directly in front of a cylinder tube. The others are between 2 cylinders. On these others I was able to use a punch and push in one side to rotate the plug then pull out based on advice from others.
There is no clearance on these rear plugs to push in then r otate???
Do these have to be pulled out with something like a dent puller?
Thanks
David
But I have encountered a speed bump. The rear plugs on both sides of the block are directly in front of a cylinder tube. The others are between 2 cylinders. On these others I was able to use a punch and push in one side to rotate the plug then pull out based on advice from others.
There is no clearance on these rear plugs to push in then r otate???
Do these have to be pulled out with something like a dent puller?
Thanks
David
Last edited by dmayhew; Nov 30, 2008 at 05:14 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 5
From: Brown Summit North Carolina
I am fearful that the hammering may transfer thru the plug and worst case crack the cylinder bore tube.
David
Last edited by dmayhew; Dec 1, 2008 at 12:21 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 22
From: Marina CA
The two methods that have worked is a slide hammer with a sheet metal screw. The other is a curved chisel that goes between the freeze plug and the block opening. Drive it in to get the edge of the freeze plug rolled down then grab it with vise grips and out it comes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
small lag bolt from hw store.If that won't work for you ... arc weld a bead on the plug's inside circumference groove ... the weld will shrink the plug & once cooled it'll probably drop loose ... this works for pressed-in bearing races.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 402
Likes: 4
From: Nassau
I just changed all of mine on my big block. I flipped the engine over on the stand and heard something jingle inside the block. After searching for a while with a flashlight I found an old freeze plug someone had knocked into the block and just left. I wasn't about to remove any of the plugs I just put in so had to spend an hour folding it up with a long screwdriver and yanking it out of a water passage that was about 1/2" wide.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 5
From: Brown Summit North Carolina
I just changed all of mine on my big block. I flipped the engine over on the stand and heard something jingle inside the block. After searching for a while with a flashlight I found an old freeze plug someone had knocked into the block and just left. I wasn't about to remove any of the plugs I just put in so had to spend an hour folding it up with a long screwdriver and yanking it out of a water passage that was about 1/2" wide.
Sounds like you hung in there and kick that problems " blank "
David
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
