Corpusfishing.com

hickroots07 · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:41 am Post subject: OT: freeze plug replacement

So i noticed a small leak from my beach truck yesterday and pinpointed it to a freeze plug. I have a 94 k1500 with a 350 in it and the plug is located just behind the oil filter and up about an inch up from the top of the filter on the driver's side. Anyone ever replaced this one? Looks somewhat difficult to get to although i hear the replacement process is easy if you can get to it. I took off the wheel and i seem to have better access. I would like to get it fixed before sharkathon. Any suggestions or anybody know a good QUICK place to get it done?

fnG · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:56 am Post subject:

get a punch and hammer.. start on one edge and smack it towards the end. if it's not stubborn, it'll turn sideways after a few hits and then just grab it with a pair of pliers

if it is stubburn, hammer a hole through it, enlarge hole and use a pry stick to pry out.

when installing the new one, cover the the sealing surface and the inside surface with gasket shellac. there's a special tool that you can use to install them.. works with an air hammer. but if you dont have.. get a socket that fits just inside of the freeze plug and tap it in place

gotmullet? · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 12:06 pm Post subject: Freeze Plug

I just replaced one just yesterday on my Jeep. I was lucky enough to have easy access to it and it only took me 15 minutes to replace.
Some are located behind motor mounts and you will probably have to lift the engine to replace. I You Tubed Replacing Freeze Plugs and was able to do it on my own.
It sounds like yours may be more difficult to replace and you have to be able to insert the new one in flush so it goes in Straight.

On the same note, I have read that if One is bad you can assume they are all bad and in need of replacement. So it sounds like I'll have to replace the rest sometime soon.
If you let it go to long its very possible you Will blow the Head Gasket and or Crack the Head ...

Goodluck...
_________________
"Do not call my Jeep a Car ever again "

hickroots07 · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 12:20 pm Post subject:

I think if i remove the tire and mud guard flap thing i have a straight shot at it. The big debate is whether i should try it before sharkathon or not

ironmanstan · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 12:55 pm Post subject:

hickroots07 · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:12 pm Post subject:

hickroots07 · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:23 pm Post subject:

Can i just jb weld the plug in?

fnG · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:37 pm Post subject:

Don't waste your time with that stuff.

That motor should be real easy to do.

fnG · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:40 pm Post subject:

If you have a hard time hammering the new one in, you should be able to get a temporary rubber plug from a parts house. It'll have a bolt in the middle and washer on one end. Put it in the hole and tighten the screw or bolt until sealed.

Not a permanent fix but could get you to the repair shop

hickroots07 · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 10:50 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the responses. Heres what i did. Tapped the plug in and it was still leaking. I thought i needed to go a bit further and ended up knocking it into the engine block. Fished it out and found a small scrape or indention where the plug goes. So i tapped the second one in. Still leaking. So since its a beater fishing truck i cleaned off all around it with a wire brush and some lacquer thinne. Wiped it clean and slathered the edges with jb weld. Applied a second coat for good measure and let it dry. A few hours later added water... no leak. Hopefully that holds for a while.

hickroots07 · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 10:51 pm Post subject:

gotmullet? · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:40 pm Post subject:

I'm glad you got it going.
As stated before if one is bad the others are not to far behind...
_________________
"Do not call my Jeep a Car ever again "

ironmanstan · Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 4:29 am Post subject:

Good job. Been there done that a few times. Good fishing.
_________________
I LIKE MINE FRIED.

fnG · Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 6:02 am Post subject:

At work we never hammer them in dry.. they'll leak. We use permatex gasket shillac. Very gooey stuff and has a smell you'll never soon forget.

I would check it often to make sure that jb weld doesn't crack. I've replaced a lot of parts that customers have tried to jb weld.

If you're doing one in the future and it gets knocked all the way down the water jacket, don't sweat it if you can't get it out.. jus as long as it doesn't interfere with the installation of a new one.

hickroots07 · Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 8:12 am Post subject:

Well i really appreciate the input. Hopefully it lasts a while.

What shop do you work at in case i need it fixed in the future?