Freeze Plug Replacement Question

[fordblueblood]

After replacing rad, hoses and t-stat I now have a small leak at the back of my motor. It appears from the best that I can tell that it's coming from the freez plug at the back of the head on the drivers side. Anybody know of a fairly easy way to replace it? I don't want to get one of the rubber ones but could in a pinch.

 

[fordblueblood]

So I take it NOBODY has ever had to do this. Wow, I must be the first one.

 

[Trfsrfr]

I'm doing this now, 9 years after the last post, lol.
And I have the same exact question.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The rubber type is the only option I know of without pulling the motor or head.

 

[Dirtman]

 

[Guanfy]

I have replaced a back block plug with a rubber expander and it sort of works. I replaced both rear plugs and one of them got caught on the flywheel and crunched in, making it leak. In truth it didn't matter for me because my cooling system had rusted out and was letting coolant mix with oil in the block but I digress. If you are going to go through the pain and suffering of pulling the transmission to get to the rear plugs go ahead and put in brass plugs so you never have to mess with anything back there ever again.

 

[19Walt93]

Do they still make expandable metal freeze plugs? Just a suggestion: replace the rest of them now, they cost peanuts and it avoids the hassle of draining the cooling system again.

 

[Guanfy]

I didn't find one. Best bet is to replace them all at once and if you plan on keeping that block for a long time install brass ones. If you can only swing steel plugs that will work too as long as you service your cooling system and keep it from becoming acidic.

 

[19Walt93]

I was talking about something like this:

568-011
Expansion Plug Quick Seal Copper - 1-3/4 In., Maximum Expansion 1.780 In.
Application Summary: Jeep CJ5 1971-68, Jeep CJ6 1971-69, Jeep Commando 1967, Jeep DJ5 1970-66, Jeep Jeepster 1971-68
Application Attributes:
Package Quantity: 5
Brand: Dorman - AutoGrade - Boxed
25 records per page 50 records per page 100 records per page
Did you find what you were looking for? Yes No

 

[Guanfy]

Well, learn something new everyday. Never saw those. The nut on the back might have clearance issues with the flywheel though if it were to be used on the back of the block.

 

[franklin2]

I have never had a 3.0, but had this same problem on a 2.9. I tried the rubber plugs, mine were bad on the side of the block. The problem I had, there was not enough room between the cylinder casting and the surface of the hole for the plug to sit in far enough. I had one on each side, the one stayed in, the other one popped out twice going down the road.

I ended up pulling the engine and replacing all of them. Glad I did, others were seeping and there is one on the 2.9 that is on the back of the block, hidden behind the bellhousing. And that one was seeping also.