Freeze plug extraction?

[vintagetrks]

Hi I've been trying to get a bad freeze plug out of my cylinder head. Anyone got any tips on how to get that sucker out? It's givin me a very hard time. :banghead:

[duncanstives]

I would suggest drilling a hole in it except you might get metal bits in the coolant passage... Try drilling ti not quite all the way though with an electric drill and then very carefully finishing the hole with a hand drill or electric drill at very low speed making sure that none of the shavings go into the hole.

Once you have a hole you can stick something in there to pull on it.

[tgreese]

Punch a hole in it, and lever it out.

[HellCreek]

I have always just used a punch and a hammer. If you punch it near the edge, it will swivel, and you can pull it out with pliers.

-Tom

[Casey]

x3

I use a screwdriver...one that clearly says "not for use as prybar or chisel", drive it trough and pry it out. ;)

[jfouraker]

I had the best luck punching a hole near the edge, then prying them out with my Lisle seal puller.

[vintagetrks]

x3

I use a screwdriver...one that clearly says "not for use as prybar or chisel", drive it trough and pry it out. ;)

Casey I've been prying on that stubborn little brass plug for a week. I'm about to put a block of C4 to it. LOL I have 3 bent up screw drivers and the darn thing has'nt budged. I got the hole so walloed out it just looks like a bullet hole now. Have you ever used a hacksaw blade to cut through the brass to help pop it out?

[vintagetrks]

I have always just used a punch and a hammer. If you punch it near the edge, it will swivel, and you can pull it out with pliers.

-Tom

I'll give that a try. Thanks for the tip. :thumbsup:

[Casey]

Casey I've been prying on that stubborn little brass plug for a week. I'm about to put a block of C4 to it. LOL I have 3 bent up screw drivers and the darn thing has'nt budged. I got the hole so walloed out it just looks like a bullet hole now. Have you ever used a hacksaw blade to cut through the brass to help pop it out?
Try a seal puller as jfouraker said. One of those will even cut through the dang thing. ;)

Or get a roll of det. cord, a blasting cap and a mattress to hide behind! :D

[fulsizjeep]

Most come out for me like Tom described.

I know this doesn't help but I just hate it when I pop out a freeze plug and find an old rotten one that had been jammed in the hole and just covered with another. That just sets me off right there. good golly moogley :banghead:

[Etcetera]

I don't even know how many times I've found old ones sitting in the holes or in engine blocks. Lazy mechanics or lazy PO's? Who knows but it's a pain.

Most come out for me like Tom described.

I know this doesn't help but I just hate it when I pop out a freeze plug and find an old rotten one that had been jammed in the hole and just covered with another. That just sets me off right there. good golly moogley :banghead:

[novacayne75]

i know it sounds crude but i have just knocked them back into the hole and left them their. if its a brass plug why are you changing it ? im sure it not rust.

[highspdlife0224]

I just recently went through my heads and found the best method to be a socket (1/2 or so) on a 3/8 drive extension. a couple whacks with that and she moved enough to pry it out with a pair of needle nose.

[vintagetrks]

I got the sucker out. Woot. Thanks to you guys and your helpful tips. Now I just have to find the 1in brass replacement plug for it.
Casey I thought of you when I went to the local Vatozone and they tried to sell me one of those rubber plugs. LOL I remember a while back you were telling me how well they worked. hehehe.
Can anyone tell me where the 1in freeze plugs for a 360 can be found?

[jsinajeep]

The NAPA store usually carry them or can order them.

[highspdlife0224]

The NAPA store usually carry them or can order them.

If not, I've got an extra set you can have. :thumbsup:

[vintagetrks]

Try a seal puller as jfouraker said. One of those will even cut through the dang thing. ;)

Or get a roll of det. cord, a blasting cap and a mattress to hide behind! :D

Thought about the det cord, but figured a blasting cap would probably do the job. Can't go wasting good det cord to many uses for the stuff. LOL

Got it out though the fourth screw driver was the charm. It was a pretty tough little bogger. I wonder what put the hole in it. I've never seen one with a hole in it as brass does'nt rust so I'm wondering how it got there in the first place.

[vintagetrks]

If not, I've got an extra set you can have. :thumbsup:

Got a part number off the Napa web site I'm gonna give them a call Monday and see if they have them in stock if so I'll have them delivered to me at work. But thank you for the generous offer.

[highspdlife0224]

Got a part number off the Napa web site I'm gonna give them a call Monday and see if they have them in stock if so I'll have them delivered to me at work. But thank you for the generous offer.

Of course! :drivin: good luck with it!

[vintagetrks]

Well finally got a replacement BRASS freeze plug and got it put in. Filled the radiator with $14.00 of fresh anti freeze and fired it up. She got to operating temp and was actually running pretty good. Then I notice fluid draining under the vehicle so I take a look and it the big freeze plug on the back of the engine on the passengers side that has now blown.:banghead:
Now I'm gonna have to pull the engine to replace it :mad: . I'm so pissed this jeep is fighting me the whole way. I'm about ready to find a good running donor engine and tranny combo and just give it a heart transplant.

[Etcetera]

On an old truck I cut an access panel to change a rear freeze plug. Made up an oversized patch and attached the removed piece of firewall to it with some spot welds and fastened the whole thing back to the firewall.

[vintagetrks]

On an old truck I cut an access panel to change a rear freeze plug. Made up an oversized patch and attached the removed piece of firewall to it with some spot welds and fastened the whole thing back to the firewall.

Good idea. I might just do that. Were you able to cut through from the interior of the vehicle or did you plasma cut it from the firewall?

[Etcetera]

Good idea. I might just do that. Were you able to cut through from the interior of the vehicle or did you plasma cut it from the firewall?

I cut through from the interior, used a big holesaw. Probably 3.5 or 4" diameter. I haven't looked at a fsj to see if there is anything in the way. Measure 100x, cut once :)

[vintagetrks]

I cut through from the interior, used a big holesaw. Probably 3.5 or 4" diameter. I haven't looked at a fsj to see if there is anything in the way. Measure 100x, cut once :)

I would probably have to remove the heater and AC units but thats probably easier than pulling the motor. ;)

[billyrb]

as much of a pain as it is, I prefer to replace them all at the same time. Also use some high-temp gasket sealer around the mating surface as that helps prevent excess leaks, especially if the surface is a little irregular / if there is a scratch from a previous removal.