'69 Bcuda 340 loses cam plug in rear of engine

[burrpenick]

The ring came off the flywheel on this 340/AT show quality car that is babied and never pushed. He replaced it and then it started leaking oil badly from the back of the engine- thought the rear main just decided to fail, but that DIDNT fix it either. This time a close inspection revealed that the broken flywheel ring had somehow knocked that cam plug out and chipped the block. Its fixed now, has anyone ever seen this issue on other Mopars?

 

[toolmanmike]

The ring came off the flywheel on this 340/AT show quality car that is babied and never pushed. He replaced it and then it started leaking oil badly from the back of the engine- thought the rear main just decided to fail, but that DIDNT fix it either. This time a close inspection revealed that the broken flywheel ring had somehow knocked that cam plug out and chipped the block. Its fixed now, has anyone ever seen this issue on other Mopars?

Any pics? Was it a dished plug?

 

[RustyRatRod]

So when the transmission was out, did you not see the back of the block?

 

[AJ/FormS]

Not your issue, but
Once upon a time;
I had a 71 Monaco 360 auto that wore the crank thrust bearing so far that the convertor-bolts got into the Camplug. The trans was leaking oil so bad from other places, that I dropped the thing, and then I saw the plug. I just caught it!
JB weld to the rescue and replaced the bearing. Phew!

 

[burrpenick]

Any pics? Was it a dished plug?

not my car, but he said it looked exactly like a freeze plug....

 

[RustyRatRod]

not my car, but he said it looked exactly like a freeze plug....

There are two different styles of cam plugs for small blocks. No matter, really, since it's fixed.

 

[burrpenick]

So when the transmission was out, did you not see the back of the block?

they did the new converter with the car on the ground-so on their back- NO LIFT, and it seemed so logical that it was the main seal....and they didnt see it (gettin older).

 

[RustyRatRod]

they did the new converter with the car on the ground-so on their back- NO LIFT, and it seemed so logical that it was the main seal....and they didnt see it (gettin older).

I can relate.

 

[toolmanmike]

not my car, but he said it looked exactly like a freeze plug....

That's the wrong plug. The correct one is a dished plug that you expand by driving the center with a large punch. Sealer around the edges of course.

 

[Locomotion]

The ring came off the flywheel on this 340/AT show quality car that is babied and never pushed. He replaced it and then it started leaking oil badly from the back of the engine- thought the rear main just decided to fail, but that DIDNT fix it either. This time a close inspection revealed that the broken flywheel ring had somehow knocked that cam plug out and chipped the block. Its fixed now, has anyone ever seen this issue on other Mopars?

If it was a "340/AT" and the ring gear with teeth came off of the converter for no apparent reason, then the fault probably lies with the converter manufacturer. Improper welding!

I lost a driveshaft at the 1/8 mile mark. Driveshaft broke in two, rear end yoke was broken, had an almost 1/2-basketball sized dent in the floor behind the passenger seat, transmission was literally shattered from the bellhousing to the tailshaft hanging together by the trans pan and bent converter still bolted to the bent flexplate. The converter bolts sawed through the cam plug area as well as the two lower wings in the back of the block where the bellhousing bolts to the block with one wing broken off of the block as well! The converter was bent and junk, but the ring gear stayed in place.

 

[burrpenick]

If it was a "340/AT" and the ring gear with teeth came off of the converter for no apparent reason, then the fault probably lies with the converter manufacturer. Improper welding!

I lost a driveshaft at the 1/8 mile mark. Driveshaft broke in two, rear end yoke was broken, had an almost 1/2-basketball sized dent in the floor behind the passenger seat, transmission was literally shattered from the bellhousing to the tailshaft hanging together by the trans pan and bent converter still bolted to the bent flexplate. The converter bolts sawed through the cam plug area as well as the two lower wings in the back of the block where the bellhousing bolts to the block with one wing broken off of the block as well! The converter was bent and junk, but the ring gear stayed in place.

Assuming you had a drive shaft loop but the break in half rendered it useless. Was the block able to be repaired?

 

[Locomotion]

Assuming you had a drive shaft loop but the break in half rendered it useless. Was the block able to be repaired?

Yes on the loop & it probably protected me. This was about 15-20 years ago but I'm pretty sure I didn't repair the block with the chunks missing. Thrust bearing would have needed replacement too. Went to billet rear yokes & solid Spicer joints after that.