You guys ever have one of these leak? If so how did you repair....

[bhazard]

I'd take a wire brush or wire cup in a drill to that first and clean the area as much as possible.

[ricko1966]

Freeze plug is a common belief they are actually casting holes left after the manufacturing of the block. Yes if you are lucky they will push out before the block is damaged, but don't count on it.Yes change it don't bother trying patch it, if you just can't get to it to drive it in you can buy block heater and install in that hole, or an expandable rubber expansion plug I am sure they are mean't as a temporary repair, but I have seen them provide years of service.

[jimdigs]

Thats what I am worried about, all the rust. I'm afraid when I start beating on the thing its just gonna fall apart, or worse, into the engine.

[Studebaker]

I would not worry about that. You can spend some extra time and flush the system while the block is open. You will be surprised what is in there.

[ryanprins13]

You guys ever have one of these leak? If so how did you repair....

Clean the rust up the best you can around the area first, but unless the coolant has been changed at least 6 or 7 times in its life there will be a lot of rust in there anyway. I thought my coolant was clean last time i changed it, then i replaced my water pump. Couldn't believe how much rust was in there.
Anyway, degreaser-pressure washer, wirebrush&picks&scrapers-compressed air, do you have a small handheld sand blaster? Might fit back there.
Make sure to do a good coolant flush when your done. Then you know when it was done last.
Adding those stop leak chemicals is a terrible idea unless its a beater you dont care about. Just plugs stuff up and doesnt carry heat well.


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[jimdigs]

I did a complete flush of the thing with Cascade powdered dish detergent a year ago April. I have a small cheap dremel tool, I guess I'll give that a whirl on the rust.

[jimdigs]

So I went to autozone today and bought two freeze plugs $1.99 each. Get home and was getting ready to drain the antifreeze when I thought that I would get one of the freeze plugs and put it next to the one that is leaking for size comparison, just in case. Glad I did. I didn't know that their were different size freeze plugs on the block. I look to the left of the one leaking and the freeze plug that I bought would fit those but not the one that is leaking. The one that is leaking is a lot smaller. Whats up with that?

[bravekozak]

That is why I own a set of vernier calipers.

[jimdigs]

So I tried to take the easy way out and jb weld it but it didn't work, still leaking. Anywho, I know if I had some calipers I could measure the thing but does anyone out there know the size of the small freeze plug that is the last one closest to the belt? I bought the bigger ones but this one is small and can't find a size for it anywhere online. Thanks, Jim

Here is a pic of where the freeze plug is located.

[jason_]

Use distilled water with new coolant.

That's the #1 battle to keeping cast iron rust free. Everyone just fills from the tap...

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[jimdigs]

Well, I finally found the right core plug size. If anyone ever needs to know it is a 30.2 mm just for that one plug. I went to autozone, they did not carry that size and could not order one, went to O'Reillys same story, then I go to an advance auto store they didn't have one either but while there I asked the kids behind the counter if they had a set of dial calipers I could use to double check the size of my plug. They looked like a couple deer in headlights, asked me if I meant brake calipers! No, calipers you use to measure things with I say, they finally understand and find a pair.

Anyway, I go home and the wife asks if I tried performance automotive, nope. I call them up and ask if they happen to have a 30mm freeze plug in stock and to my surprise they say yes. I thought I was gonna have to find some place online and wait til Monday to get one. Plus it was only .59 cents. I asked the guy if they had more and he said yep, I shoulda bought it right then. I must not of knocked it in straight because it is leaking at the bottom. I tried evening it out best I could but will have to try again. I used a socket that fit snug in the plug and tapped it in but it did go in at the bottom first. Kept trying to tap it in even and feeling the rim and thought I had it good but when I put in some coolant it had a slow leak at the bottom. Oh well, try again tomorrow. 30mm plug people the odd ball sized one not the 3 bigger ones as shown in my photo above.