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.
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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
