rear freeze plug leaking, mortal engine wound

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63dartman

63dartman

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My passenger side freeze plug is leaking pretty bad. I was thinking about popping it out and using one of the easy seal rubber plugs. I have had sucsess with these on a 318. I'm not sure I can get a good angle on it with the engine installed to put a new one in. I think it's my fault since I have been using straight water:( What do you guys think?
 
well, after reading up on the rubber expansion plugs I am going to attempt to replace the freeze plug with a new brass one, it's a tight fit to get a hammer in there to seat it but I don't want to end up tearing into it again if the rubber fails. If there is one thing I learned from you guys is NOT TO MICKEY MOUSE A REPAIR!!!! Now, To replace the freeze plug is it okay to find a socket or such that is close to the inside diameter of the plug and use that to drive it in or do I need something that fits the lip of the plug to drive it in? I don't want to reduce the holding capabilities of the plug by installing wrong.
 
also,
i want to thank the admins for doing such a great job running and updating the site. Isure do like the new buttons!!
 
There is a tool for installing them in a car, but you need a vehicle lift. You might check with a local tool rental place.
 
Thanks 64dartwagon, I guess I'll be hunting down that tool. Why does the car need to be on a lift? is the tool that long? I have the front on stands and I have a nice angle at the plug opening too.
 
If one looks like that the others aren't far behind, you might as well change all you can while your down there.

Chuck
 
340, the odd thing is that there is nothing wrong with the plug once I removed it(except for the screwdriver hole:))It was leaking between the plug and engine block. It was not rusted or thin. The engine only has about 4k on the rebuild which included new freeze plugs. I bought a brass plug and just finished putting that in. I'll see how that works. I also cleaned up the hole with 220 sandpaper. On the old one you could see the water stains all the way down the outside bottom edge causing the leak.
 
63dartman said:
Why does the car need to be on a lift? is the tool that long? I have the front on stands and I have a nice angle at the plug opening too.
Click to expand...

The tool is typically long to get it below the vehicle to swing your hammer with some force. I always coat the outside sealing edge of the freezeplug with rtv to help keep out the weepers. Here's a link to one I found online. Only $60.95 but for only one use?

http://www.toolsource.com/expansion...-51127.html?osCsid=gi1kbn371k53l94qeg5cgc8vh3
 
64dart wagon, I used a tool similar to that and it was in my box for free. I had a straight shot at the plug so I used one of my high precision sockets and an extension to smack it in8) worked like it was made for the job. I talked to a guy at NAPA about the tool and he said use the socket......but thanks for letting me know there is a tool made for the job.
 
Iv'e had ones that could hardly be seen let alone a straight shot. I'm happy for you that it was a reachable shot.
 
the 440 in my pickup has a rubber plug in it. no problems in 9 years.
 
why don't you just put a block heater in the hole?
you can use it and you don't need special tools
 
why don't you just put a block heater in the hole?
you can use it and you don't need special tools
 
what the hell is a block heater? Something that plugs into the freeze plug hole and hs a fan on it?
 
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