freeze plugs

[ss_mini14]

i thouhgt i had all my coolant leaks fixed when i replaced every 20 year old hose on my wagon over the fast few months but it seems i've sprung another one. it's coming from the right side of the engine dripping right behind the control arm. due to the tight quarters and the fact that i dont like sticking my face under hot dripping water i can't see exactly where i is leaking from so i'm assuming it is coming from a core plug. i dont see any other hoses or any other obvious sources. i don't have any air tools at home yet so i'm tempted to pay somone to do it. should i decide to tackle it myself, anyone have any tips and suggestions? i'll only have about 10 hours free on saturday to complete the job and i'm sure half of that will be spent in line at the parts store.

[gadget73]

Have a look under the car when its cold. If the core plugs are rotted you'll see it. The only one thats probably a bastard is the one right over the motor mount. Others shouldn't be too terrible to install.

[DuceAnAHalf]

the only tools you should need are a big flat head screwdriver, pair of pliers, a big socket or short 3/8" extension and a hammer.

also need a new brass plug and some RTV

You use the screwdriver to punch through the plug.
pry the plug out using the hole you made.
smear some RTV around the edge of the new plug.
tap the plug in evenly, use the socket to drive the plug in so the lip is slightly below the edge of the block

[gadget73]

Some people also like that brush-on sealer. I put the set in my first rebuild with no sealer at all, and it didn't leak. The ones in my current motor were installed at the machine shop and it looks like the aircraft brush on sealer type stuff.

[DuceAnAHalf]

Some people also like that brush-on sealer. I put the set in my first rebuild with no sealer at all, and it didn't leak. The ones in my current motor were installed at the machine shop and it looks like the aircraft brush on sealer type stuff.

you dont have to have the sealer, but it wont hurt

[ss_mini14]

ive done a few on some old datsuns, toyotas, a dodge 225 slant 6 and a few series 60's, but this one is burried behind the control arm. i'm not quite as thin as i used to be either.

[DuceAnAHalf]

unbolt the two parts of the the motor mounts and then lift the motor up enough where you can get in there

[gadget73]

If the engine side bracket is in the way, you can just pull the two bolts out of the motor and remove the bracket.

[ss_mini14]

strange thing...the past 2 days this car hasn't leaked any coolant and the cap has been pressurized. i dont get it, one day it's spraying out like crazy the next it wont leak anything...

[DuceAnAHalf]

strange thing...the past 2 days this car hasn't leaked any coolant and the cap has been pressurized. i dont get it, one day it's spraying out like crazy the next it wont leak anything...

maybe some of the rust in the water passages broke free and clogged the hole.

[gadget73]

Scary. If thats what it is, you'd best get them changed before one fails in a major way and pukes all the coolant out while driving.

[87_crown_vic]

i am curious... have you done a water pump on the car or previous person that you know of? many times when you mess with the water pump, the timing cover springs a leak. if thats the case, get timing gears, chain, and water pump. my 2 door that i need to do a motor swap would leak at times and not others. i tracked it to the timing cover leaking out.

[ss_mini14]

i havent seen any leak at the timing cover. i've owned the car for over a year and it still has the same water pump i got with it which looked pretty old when i got the car. it did have what looked like bar's leak stuck in one of the heater hoses i bypassed a few months ago. maybe some of that is still floating about the engine...