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As the title says i believe my drain plug exploded vomiting coolant everywhere. I was waiting for a friend one sunny day, when my low coolant light kept flickering on and off. When I stepped outside it looked as if all the coolant in the engine was halfway down the street. I had an issue with the petcock being leaky a week prior but upon taking it out and inspecting it the threads and rubber seal looked to be in order. I thought it must have been my lack of tightening so i got my vice grips and gave it enough turns to the point it stopped dripping coolant.
Upon barely making it home somehow i tried pouring water to see where this leak is only for it to immediately fall right out the bottom. I got an endoscope camera in there and it looks as if the drain plug exploded leaving some bits still threaded in. I can only assume my extra elbow grease cracked the apparent old plastic plug and as pressure built up in the cooling system the weakest link couldn't handle the pressure and simply crumbled. Is this even possible? I’m worried the threads are going to be stripped and simply buying a new drain plug wont fix it, and that I may have to get a new radiator. Any help is appreciated, as well as thoughts and prayers.
I believe that a replacement should be a 'local' buy. You might use either of these GM part #'s as a reference 3056858 (would be original to an '87) and likely 3093594 was a later replacement for that. If there's still a local radiator shop that does repairs that might be a good place to start. I'd think most any 'local' auto parts supplier also.
I wouldn't think you'll require a radiator and actually most newer replacements don't have drain-*****.
I believe that a replacement should be a 'local' buy. You might use either of these GM part #'s as a reference 3056858 (would be original to an '87) and likely 3093594 was a later replacement for that. If there's still a local radiator shop that does repairs that might be a good place to start. I'd think most any 'local' auto parts supplier also.
I wouldn't think you'll require a radiator and actually most newer replacements don't have drain-*****.
Turns out nothing was particularly damaged the threads were fine and a replacment cockpit was all it needed. I bought some tiny grabby claw thingy off of amazon and grabbed the pieces out of my radiator. That replacement part fit perfectly and haven't had a leak out of there since. Appreciate the help.
1987 Corvette Radiator Drain Plug Exploding
