damn freeze plugs [again]

[jgilbs]

ok, so i got an ew freeze plug and i tried to hammer it into the engine. so it was sitting up there and it looked liek i had it in there nice and tight, so i tried filling the coolant and i heard the familiar patter of water falling onto the tarp i have under the car. so i went back under, gave it a few light taps, and i looked up and there it was, INSIDE the engine. GODDAMNIT. anyone know of any easy ways to get it out? or should I just give up and call a mechanic?

 

[nserafini]

That's a tough one .... I've seen a freeze plug come out once it's in the block

 

[jgilbs]

maybe ill try to stick some metal epoxy on the end of some extra conduit i have lying around, then ill try to stick it to the freeze plug then ill let it dry and then just yank it out....wish me luck

 

[chris c]

according to the manuals you can knock them in on one edge with a punch to deform them and then pull them out with a needle nose pliers or needle vise grips, etc...

so basically just keep knocking it in, but on just one area. it will push in and deform and then you can pull it out....

 

[lonestar]

why don't you keep it all in the same thread instead of starting a new one???

Good Luck. When the water froze and expanded it pushed on all the freeze plugs. Make sure none of the other freeze plugs got pushed out when the water froze. So I won't be suprised it another one begins to leak.

 

[jgilbs]

why don't you keep it all in the same thread instead of starting a new one???

sorry, i was too lazy to find my other thread
the epoxy didnt work. i cant find where the plug went in the engine. would it be really bad if i just left it in there and just plugged it up with another freeze plug?
this car is just killin me!

 

[THE SIGN GUY]

use a pair of pliers or vise grips and grab the freeze plug and use the block as a rest for leverage on the pliers and the damn thing will come out

 

[THE SIGN GUY]

oh yes you will have to getn a new plug , just deform the stuck one

 

[jgilbs]

yea i can't even see the thing now, its somewhere in my water jacket that i can't reach. oh well, looks like im gonna have to bring it to the shop - i really can't work under the car because i have a garage with a gravel floor and it just wont support jackstands - i tried and they just fall because they don't have a stable surface to rest on.

 

[Nate1]

Why dont you put some wood blocks under the jackstands in that case?

Good luck with this whole ordeal.

 

[THE SIGN GUY]

use a magnet to bring the old plug back up to the hole so you can then grab the stupid thing with the vise grips

DO NOT GIVE UP !!!!

YOU ARE A MAN AND SOME IDIOT ENGINEER IS JUST SCREWING WITH YOU SO YOU MUST WIN
CHRIS

 

[jgilbs]

LOL -

DO NOT GIVE UP!!! YOU ARE A MAN AND SOME IDIOT ENGINEER IS JUST SCREWING WITH YOU SO YOU MUST WIN

LOL - god i totally feel that way too. it was prob the same engineer who designed that damn bolt on the thermostat housing.

 

[THE SIGN GUY]

do you understand how to get the plug back up to the hole ?

gravity will make it fall straight down, then it can roll front or rear like a plinko chip, so you need to find it with a magnet then pull it up so you can grab the little sh$%$^y thing with the pliers and use the block as a fulcrum to "roll" it out 9destroying it in the process IT IS A LOT SOFTER THAN THE BLOCK IS, then the new one needs to be installed perfectly square to the machined surfaced around the hole(use a deepwell socket a little bit smaller then the new plug.
now get mad and fix the EX

 

[jgilbs]

how can i get it perfectly square to the block? i dont want to have to lift the engine out, so im under the car at this point, and the damn starter and transfer case are in the way. i might take out the starter, but i'd really rather not mess with the tcase. it is like the most awkward positioning possible. the only way i could even pound the plug in was by putting it on the end of some conduit then i positioned the plug into place and smacked the end of the conduit with a hammer....only problem is it worked TOO well

 

[THE SIGN GUY]

take out the starter if you can not get to the plug hole, then use a socket and an extension (1 or more)to get to it instead of the conduit, i am guessing that the plug went right thru the hole because it was not "square" take off anything u have to to get to the hole easier
if you place the new plug flat into the hole and dont hammer it to hard it WILL WORK.

btw: the MOST awkward position possible is with a short hairy fat chick with no teeth !!!!

 

[wpurple]

block heater instead of a plug

another thought...
Once you get the old freeze plug out, you could put in a block heater instead of replacing the plug. The block heater seals with an "O" ring, and just tighens with a screw.
Not only will you get a good seal but you can be warm on these cold winter mornings. Heck the last few mornings that it has been below zero here it was nice to start off warm.