frost plugs

[77/360]

I have rusted frost plugs in my 360 , is there a easy way to install the ones that are behind the exhaust manifold and the engine mounts. Three are no problem but the other three are close to imposable. i was thinking of triing a button jack and a porta power has any body tried this .

[B-300]

It should work. Make sure the porta power doesn't press against the block or it could crack it.... press on the plug only.
I have used sockets and extensions to driver the plugs in but use brass plugs on engine rebuilds so they will outlast the engine.

[stev]

Be forewarned, if you use copper or inferior steel for freeze or frost plugs in an engine block while the cooling system uses a long life fluid, sever corrosion in the cooling system can happen.

GM has a massive class action against it dealing with the DexCool issues. Maybe not anymore since the bankruptcy.

So, care with long life coolant and the plugs. Likewise with the water-pump too.

[lilredex]

Think your biggest concern will be the ones hidding in the back by the torque converter. Either the block or the transmission needs to be removed to get those. Years back I had a '74 W100 (318) and it forever seeped antifreeze. Never could see anything and just kept adding until one day.............Spllttttttttttttttt!! Thought a street washer truck had passed. Luckily I was only 10 min from home and was able to limp there with a few buckets of borrowed water along the way. Only a couple of month's earlier I had made a 350 mile move from another city.

[RamVanMan]

Hi guys:

Ditto what you said. I noted some nascent corrosion on those impossible to reach freeze plugs, behind the motor mounts & ex manifold.

Already got the one (s) in the rear of the block when the trans was out, they were quite toasted, seeping already - this is a 1996 318 in a 2500 Conv.

I am all ears about if there is any simple way to deal with those hard to reach ones.

Do I remember correctly that the OEM ones are cheap steel instead of brass ? (I'm 90 % certain my mechanic friend who helped me said: 'what the heck, steel freeze plugs...guaranteed to leak in short order')

If so, it could explain why there is so much corrosion in Detroit in general, if you catch my drift......no self respecting Japanese, German or Swedish Mfr would dare use anything but a brass freeze plug, but Detroit.....DUH !

Funny how all that planned obsolescence hasn't ensured their business success !

Thanks for your inputs everyone.

DB
RamVanMan

[77/360]

Thanks for the informationevery body! The porta power worked like a charm . My plugs were the mopar plugs and were steal and all were half eaten away, 3 were seeping coolant. I was lucky to have the local speed shop give me the brass plugs , they do a lot of marine engines so they use all brass plugs . After seeing the side plugs i will be planning on doing the rear plugs as soon as I get a chance . It looks like the fromt plugs have already been changed there shinny and new looking but they are steal .