freeze plugs replacement

sixlitre:
I just noticed the freeze plug on the back of the motor, drivers side above the tranny there's like rusty scaling inside the diameter of the freeze plug. (Not Happy) I took a paper towel and lightly wiped around to to be sure it wasnt' dirt or grease. It was rust so I wanted to be careful not to disturb it in case it's becoming soft in the center, but there aren't any water trails to indicate that's leaking down and no water spots on the driveway and I'm not overheating at all but it's only a matter of time before that gets worse.

This rubber expansion plug form Napa you're talking about, does it replace then old plug or cover it and what is the cost?
I know there's always JB weld as a last resort, that plug of mine is in a tight spot and I do have brand new plugs from Ford but I don't think there's enough room to work. I think I could get it out but getting a new metal one in with a socket and something to tap it in is too much of a grunt.

Let me know!

Thanks


:enforce Freeze plugs, Oh yeah lots of fun!

JKossarides said:

sixlitre:
I just noticed the freeze plug on the back of the motor, drivers side above the tranny there's like rusty scaling inside the diameter of the freeze plug. (Not Happy) I took a paper towel and lightly wiped around to to be sure it wasnt' dirt or grease. It was rust so I wanted to be careful not to disturb it in case it's becoming soft in the center, but there aren't any water trails to indicate that's leaking down and no water spots on the driveway and I'm not overheating at all but it's only a matter of time before that gets worse.

This rubber expansion plug form Napa you're talking about, does it replace then old plug or cover it and what is the cost?
I know there's always JB weld as a last resort, that plug of mine is in a tight spot and I do have brand new plugs from Ford but I don't think there's enough room to work. I think I could get it out but getting a new metal one in with a socket and something to tap it in is too much of a grunt.

Let me know!

Thanks


:enforce Freeze plugs, Oh yeah lots of fun!

Click to expand...

Geez JK !

You Californians slay me with your dire rust discoveries:histerica I think y'all die of a heart attack if you saw the kind of cancer that lives under our salt-belt broncos.

In answer to your questions; yes you remove the old one first and then insert the rubber plug and tighten the nut to expand the rubber in the hole just like those wine bottle rubber stoppers.

Back then they were $7.00 Canadian dollars so I don't think they'd be much mo' in American dollars now.

You may be able to install a new frost plug just by using a hole saw to drill access for a socket extension through one of the plastic inner fenderwells.

Use a punch in the top edge of the old frost plug and whack itso the bottom lip comes out far enough for you to clamp a pair of vicegrips on.

Once you have it with the vicegrips you'll be able to lever it out no problems.

Once I dropped one down inside a block. Drove me insane until I had the block out for an overbore years later, but the truth is it didn't hurt anything with it down inside the waterjacket.

Loctite for the frost plug, ultracopper for the rubber expanding repair plug.

Sixlitre

I know but I'm trying to bring this Bronco up to real good performance level as a daily driver and small stuff like this could cause over heating at some point and besides it's my only transportation right now and I know I'm real anal retentive about stuff like this, I mean we don't have rust in Kali right? lol

~The other car is my girlfriends 2005 SL500 Mercedes Benz which I drive on the weekends but that's her ride.

What is ultracopper and does it come with the rubber repair kit or where do I get that, I'm not familiar with that one. The plug I'm talking about is on the upper back left side of the motor above the tranny but it's away from the liner so I go from undernreath but the tranny's in the way a bit. There's some room in there but like I said I don't know if there's room to tap a socket with a small hammer or something. The rubber thing seems like a good idea for now, this engine was rebuilt several years ago before I bought the Bronco and only has about 35K so I won't be re-building it for a while.

Thanks for the info ~


:enforce Reach for the sky pardner or I'll freeze plug ya!

JK

Ultracopper is one of Permatex's best gasket sealants. Does almost everything (high heat, won't hurt sensors, etc, etc) so I use it for everything instead of buying 12 different kinds. Bet NAPA has it.

Sounds like your plugs are on the back of the heads, like Steve83 has shown you, correct ?

Imlikeojnow is reffering to your transmission access panel where older Broncos used to have our manual 4X4 shift levers. Pull back the carpet under your heater and you'll see it.

He's right, you might be able to access the plug from there. If not break out the holesaw on your firewall's @$$ :toothless

Sixlitre

JKossarides said:

sixlitre:
There's something bolted back there to the head which just covers the frezze plug a bit. I was looking from the botom up and we were on our way out to dinner last night. Is it part of the exhuast header? I'll look when I get home from work. Either way I think it's a do with either plug. Doesn't seem to be leaking but we'll see.

Thanks!


:enforce

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More than likely that's the Thermactor pipe that runs between the heads and hooks to a 4 way valve, then the air pump and eventually the dreaded catalytic converter.

I'm not sure if you'll need to remove that or not as I've never seen that out on the floor to know.

I had to put all that $h!t back on when I changed provinces(Canajian states) and those F#@&ing idiots in Ontario started emissions checks 30 F#@&ing years after most American states started turfing them.

Fortunately my Bronco is now over 20 and completely emissions exempt forever more, so they can take a long, hard $uCk on my @$$ as far as I'm concerned.

Sixlitre

p.s./
If you can get at the plug, why don't you scratch the rust a bit and see how deep it goes. Frost plugs are pretty dern thick and last up to 30 years even up here in the rust belt.

If it's only surface rust, wire brush or sandpaper it, treat it and give it a shot of Plasticote engine enamel (my favourite brand as it's dry in 5 minutes).