Rubber/Expandable Freeze Plug Removal + Engine Block Flush

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hivewax
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Rubber/Expandable Freeze Plug Removal + Engine Block Flush

Post by hivewax »

I'm trying to remove a rubber expandable freeze plug from an '79 351M engine block to put in brass ones in the '68 truck. I tried to take the nut off, but it just spins... looks to be rusted on there tight. How would I go about safely removing it? Pickle fork and hammer? Grinding the nut off? Or, other?

Also, I have 4 of 6 steel freeze plugs off and inside each is muddy rust sediment in the crevices. Can I just get a water hose and spray in the plug holes to get all the sediment out once I get all the freeze plugs off? Or, is there a better way to get it all out?

TIA
Loren Pittack - EngineeRunner, Corp.
'97 Dodge 2500 - 12V Cummins, NV4500, hydro-boost, DANA 80 rear (power-train donor)
'68 F250 4x4 Crew Cab Short Box - work horse parts/car hauler - http://fordification.com/forum/viewtopi ... 22&t=60632
'66 Mustang FASTBACK GT - modified - http://engineerunner.com/vintage-ford.html
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Re: Rubber/Expandable Freeze Plug Removal + Engine Block Flush

Post by hivewax »

To add, the motor is in engine bay, jacked up at the bell-housing. I removed the motor mounts to gain access to the freeze plugs.
Loren Pittack - EngineeRunner, Corp.
'97 Dodge 2500 - 12V Cummins, NV4500, hydro-boost, DANA 80 rear (power-train donor)
'68 F250 4x4 Crew Cab Short Box - work horse parts/car hauler - http://fordification.com/forum/viewtopi ... 22&t=60632
'66 Mustang FASTBACK GT - modified - http://engineerunner.com/vintage-ford.html
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Re: Rubber/Expandable Freeze Plug Removal + Engine Block Flush

Post by forrestbump »

Sounds like drilling them out is what you'll have to do. Drill a small round pattern around the fastener head. There is a metal washer on the inside of those rubber plugs that expands the rubber to fill the freeze plug hole, so you'll be drilling through that as well...just so you're prepared. Too bad you can't pull the motor out...it would make it easier to remove them.

You'll have to pry out the remainder of those plugs after you've drilled through them.

Run water through the water jackets after you've removed all of the freeze plugs to wash out as much of the rust sediment as possible.
1970, 2WD, F-250, C/S, Dual Tanks, 390 FE (of course), C6, Power Steering, Power Disc Brakes, Dana 60 3.73, Sky View Blue, Ranger XLT

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Re: Rubber/Expandable Freeze Plug Removal + Engine Block Flush

Post by hivewax »

Yeah, I need to figure out how to stick a drill in there! I do have a Dremel. :hmm:
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'97 Dodge 2500 - 12V Cummins, NV4500, hydro-boost, DANA 80 rear (power-train donor)
'68 F250 4x4 Crew Cab Short Box - work horse parts/car hauler - http://fordification.com/forum/viewtopi ... 22&t=60632
'66 Mustang FASTBACK GT - modified - http://engineerunner.com/vintage-ford.html
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Re: Rubber/Expandable Freeze Plug Removal + Engine Block Flush

Post by forrestbump »

The dremel should do the job just fine. If you break any bits or cutting tools off inside your water jackets, fish them out with a magnet. Same goes for any/all of the parts from the expandable rubber freeze plugs that might fall inside your motor. A long flexible grabber tool works well also.
1970, 2WD, F-250, C/S, Dual Tanks, 390 FE (of course), C6, Power Steering, Power Disc Brakes, Dana 60 3.73, Sky View Blue, Ranger XLT

1970, 2WD, F-250, C/S, A/C, Dual Tanks, 390 FE (again, of course), C6, Power Steering, Power Disc Brakes, Dana 60 3.73, Wimbledon White & Sky View Blue, Ranger (almost twin brothers!)

"One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do" - Henry Ford

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Re: Rubber/Expandable Freeze Plug Removal + Engine Block Flush

Post by hivewax »

I think cutting the nut off with the Dremel will be much easier. Gee-sh, I'm making this way too complicated!
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'97 Dodge 2500 - 12V Cummins, NV4500, hydro-boost, DANA 80 rear (power-train donor)
'68 F250 4x4 Crew Cab Short Box - work horse parts/car hauler - http://fordification.com/forum/viewtopi ... 22&t=60632
'66 Mustang FASTBACK GT - modified - http://engineerunner.com/vintage-ford.html
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Re: Rubber/Expandable Freeze Plug Removal + Engine Block Flush

Post by forrestbump »

You can do that too and then just pry out what's left. And NO, you're not making it complicated as those rubber expandable freeze plugs are a giant PITA to remove once the hardware on them rusts in place.
1970, 2WD, F-250, C/S, Dual Tanks, 390 FE (of course), C6, Power Steering, Power Disc Brakes, Dana 60 3.73, Sky View Blue, Ranger XLT

1970, 2WD, F-250, C/S, A/C, Dual Tanks, 390 FE (again, of course), C6, Power Steering, Power Disc Brakes, Dana 60 3.73, Wimbledon White & Sky View Blue, Ranger (almost twin brothers!)

"One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do" - Henry Ford

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Re: Rubber/Expandable Freeze Plug Removal + Engine Block Flush

Post by Whateverman »

not having a dremel handy i've had to use a propane torch to burn away the rubber plug before prying the remains out of the block
- still got my first first car 20+yrs later : 69 f100 sorta kinda pretending its a Mercury M100 w/a 70 f350 sport custom cab (factory buckets) 67 grille with 69 ranger cooneyes 68 merc box and hood,some supercool fiberglass fenders i scored way back when, 76 f150 disc brake frontend..currently running a 90 5.0HO 4bbl/c4 auto & 3.50 posi...originally a 360/c6 f100 Ranger with dealer added towpack (incl. kelsey hays trailer brake),boxside toolbox,behind the seat stowage & belly tank...only original parts left on 'er are the frame,rear end,rear springs,and rear bumper...
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Re: Rubber/Expandable Freeze Plug Removal + Engine Block Flush

Post by hivewax »

I got the nut cut off by Dremel, but the rubber plug still wouldn't come out because it expanded. After some picking with a screwdriver/ pliers/ scissors, it finally came out. From this episode, I will never use rubber plugs again. A propane torch would of got the job done quicker.
Loren Pittack - EngineeRunner, Corp.
'97 Dodge 2500 - 12V Cummins, NV4500, hydro-boost, DANA 80 rear (power-train donor)
'68 F250 4x4 Crew Cab Short Box - work horse parts/car hauler - http://fordification.com/forum/viewtopi ... 22&t=60632
'66 Mustang FASTBACK GT - modified - http://engineerunner.com/vintage-ford.html
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Re: Rubber/Expandable Freeze Plug Removal + Engine Block Flush

Post by cep62 »

That's strange ... The last rubber freeze plug I ever had, came out all on it's own. (previous owner)
It was raining and I thought all the steam behind me was road mist.
By the time I looked at my gauge it said HOT.
all I can say is FE motors are tough.
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