Freeze Plugs Popped Out

Chucks 86

New Member

May 2, 2014

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Pahrump, Nevada

May 2, 2014

#1

• May 2, 2014

• #1

Hey guys, on my 86 5.0 and just found out that 3 of my freeze plugs popped out of the block, 1 on the driver side and 2 on the passenger. The car has been sitting since September and I found out when I filled the coolant. What would cause this and any suggestions on repair?

 

madspeed

Colonel Mustard

Founding Member

Nov 29, 1999

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a van down by the river

May 2, 2014

#2

• May 2, 2014

• #2

Freezing

 

Chucks 86

New Member

May 2, 2014

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Pahrump, Nevada

May 2, 2014

#3

• May 2, 2014

• #3

• Are there any other issues I should look for?

 

OonDeanisS

Founding Member

Jun 16, 2002

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Danbury, CT

May 2, 2014

#4

• May 2, 2014

• #4

if the coolant in the engine freezes it expands, and has nowhere to go but to push the freeze plugs out.

 

Last edited: May 3, 2014

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician

Aug 27, 2012

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In the garage

May 3, 2014

#5

• May 3, 2014

• #5

put some rtv around the new ones when you press them in

 

OonDeanisS

Founding Member

Jun 16, 2002

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Danbury, CT

May 3, 2014

#6

• May 3, 2014

• #6

EDIT: i talked to an engine builder who has many years of experience, and he said if your block freezes it will likely have cracked the block. He said the freeze plugs are not so much for actual freezing as they are used to clean the sand out from the coolant passages after a media blast. If it froze and popped the plugs out, its probably cracked, he said. id get the block checked out.

 

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash

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Aug 10, 2002

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Ontario, Canada

May 3, 2014

#7

• May 3, 2014

• #7

OonDeanisS said:

He said the freeze plugs are not so much for actual freezing as they are used to clean the sand out from the coolant passages after a media blast. If it froze and popped the plugs out, its probably cracked, he said. id get the block checked out.

Click to expand...

Media blast....no. Casting sand more likely.

I'm gonna ask the obvious question here....did it actually get cold enough to freeze your block since September?

 

OonDeanisS

Founding Member

Jun 16, 2002

902

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Danbury, CT

May 3, 2014

#8

• May 3, 2014

• #8

oh, yea. youre probably right about the casting sand. He said "the sand" and i assumed that was from the media blaster, but i didnt even think of the casting sand. thanks for the clarification.

 

Chucks 86

New Member

May 2, 2014

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Pahrump, Nevada

May 4, 2014

#9

• May 4, 2014

• #9

It got down to the low teens over the winter here and the car ran like a champ before that. I've run into another problem though. One of the plugs I put in didn't go all the way into the block but enough for it not to hold water, any suggestions for removing it?