inner crank seal question

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Dec 16, 2006 | 07:40 PM

Castrellon

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 386

Likes: 0

From: El Paso Texas

inner crank seal question

OK here's how I screwed up. I tried to use grease to hydraulicly push out the pilot shaft roller bearing, like I've done many times on lots of small blocks and big blocks, back in the day. Doesn't work on LS model engines. Hollow crank! So, I packed in about two handfuls of grease, before I realized it wasn't going to work. Next day borrowed a slide hammer, put a 3/8" bolt in it, heated up the bolt to give me the correct angle and got the bearing out. Cleaned out the grease. Now I can see the freeze plug, inside the crank, cocked over at an angle.
To get it out, I'll drill a 1/8" pilot hole and put a self tapping long screw into it and pull it out with the slide hammer.
Is this a special part or can I get any old freeze plug that matches up in size?
Is there a specific depth that it has to be installed?
I've got friends in a machine shop so I can make an installer tool if you can give me specifications for it.

Dec 16, 2006 | 08:25 PM

SteveDoten

Le Mans Master

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 6,276

Likes: 226

From: Farmington CT

Cruise-In VII Veteran

we need a sticky to cover this issue, there is a warning in the GM onwer's manual about the plug

give Texas Speed a call or Scoggins in TX, I do not have experience fixing the plug

many members have luck w/ the 'blind hole puller' from autozone, the pullers from Advance a FPOS's

I have a monster puller that was passed down to me

wonder how the driver was feeling in your sig?

Dec 16, 2006 | 11:16 PM

double-oh-coupe

Pro

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 681

Likes: 2

From: The Woodlands TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve@CTCorvette

wonder how the driver was feeling in your sig?

I wonder how his pants were feeling

Dec 17, 2006 | 01:58 PM

Castrellon

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 386

Likes: 0

From: El Paso Texas

I don't think gettin' it out will be the problem. The problem will be getting the new freeze plug and getting it installed to the correct depth. Is it covered in the factory service manual? Should I get one at the dealership?
When I get the new one, should I put shalack on it or thread locker so it won't come loose? I'd hate to have it come loose and then lose oil pressure and ruin the clutch and the motor similtaniously.

Dec 18, 2006 | 06:50 PM

Castrellon

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 386

Likes: 0

From: El Paso Texas

This guy at work was telling me that drilling might be a problem. Says I might not get all the shaving out and then have them end up stuck in a passage some where starving a bearing.
I've got a 4" long 3/8-24 bolt and will grind it down and put a curve in it to hopefully get that sucker out.
Hopefully I can get it out with out deforming it, so I can match it up for a new one.

Dec 18, 2006 | 08:44 PM

vettenuts

Team Owner

Joined: Mar 1999

Posts: 22,025

Likes: 192

From: At the beach in little Rhody

Here's what I found on my parts CD:

Plug, Expansion Plug Cup Shape 1" Steel (CR/SFT HOLE) 97-01 Part # 9427698 (doesn't appear to be correct, but the number is hard to read)

Note that I looked on Fred Beans and GMPartDirect and couldn't find this part number, so it may be incorrect.

Dec 18, 2006 | 08:58 PM

SnowyATX

Safety Car

Joined: Sep 2000

Posts: 3,604

Likes: 395

From: Austin, TX

Wow, I feel for ya. I hate when that kinda crap happens.

A little birdie told me that the plug may be as shown below....the same birdie mentioned a number similar to Vettenuts above but it didn't seem to be valid either. Hope this helps.

GM PART # 10044811
GM LIST: $6.63

Description: Plug

Not that it helps you now but here is the puller that I used a while back that worked great. Borrowed it from AutoZone. I hope this helps someone in the future.

Last edited by SnowyATX; Dec 18, 2006 at 09:11 PM.

Dec 19, 2006 | 09:51 PM

Castrellon

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 386

Likes: 0

From: El Paso Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by vettenuts

Thanks, man. I got one from some one at work today. 1" diameter, not steel. Also gave me a brass one, said it was better since it won't rust. Didn't tell him what it was going on. Think I'll stick with the the other as it's lighter. The original wasn't steel though. I tried to stick a magnet to it, and it wouldn't. Oh well.
Also, thanks for the illistration. Wasn't sure about the depth. A mechanic at the dealership said there'd be a shoulder that would stop it from going to far. Now, I can measuer with the tail end of my sliding calipers.
This is a great website.

Last edited by Castrellon; Dec 19, 2006 at 09:57 PM.