Freeze plug

[Wayno666]

My 4.0 is leaking from the LH middle freeze plug. I was tempted to take it to a shop because it looks like you can remove it from the bottom, if you remove the starter and a lift.
Unfortunately I've never had good luck with shops.
I am in the midst of removing the exhaust manifold. I have 5 bolts loose. The bottom rear bolt is almost inaccessible. I'm not even sure of the size as the others are 10 mm and 12 mm and 13. I think it's 12. I can't reach my hand down there while trying to hold and spin a socket. I've tried to reach it with a short socket, a deep socket, a short with wobbly,
a short with adapter and breaker bar. I can't reach it with a socket/combination wrench.
I don't have a powered ratchet. WTF. I'm running out of ideas.
Hopefully one of you have the answer.
Thank you

 

[Curious Hound]

Have you tried removing the plastic fender liner and reaching in through the wheel well? I really would expect them all to take the same size wrench. But maybe rust is fouling things up for you.

 

[JJMaine]

+1 on reaching in through the wheel well, that was the only way I could get to the top bolt where the driver side manifold bolts to the catalytic converter but mine is 4x4. Mine were all 13mm nuts on the cylinder heads.

 

[Wayno666]

My 4.0 is leaking from the LH middle freeze plug. I was tempted to take it to a shop because it looks like you can remove it from the bottom, if you remove the starter and a lift.
Unfortunately I've never had good luck with shops.
I am in the midst of removing the exhaust manifold. I have 5 bolts loose. The bottom rear bolt is almost inaccessible. I'm not even sure of the size as the others are 10 mm and 12 mm and 13. I think it's 12. I can't reach my hand down there while trying to hold and spin a socket. I've tried to reach it with a short socket, a deep socket, a short with wobbly,
a short with adapter and breaker bar. I can't reach it with a socket/combination wrench.
I don't have a powered ratchet. WTF. I'm running out of ideas.
Hopefully one of you have the answer.
Thank you

I don't know what happened. As soon as I posted this I went out to the truck and stood
on a wheel to get a better look and like magic it came right out with a short and a wobbly.
You guys are great.
Next question. Sealant on the freeze plug or not?
Thank you

 

[Curious Hound]

I don't think they're supposed to need sealant. But i'm not 100% sure. They also make a mechanical repair plug you can use that expands when you tighten it. I've never used them. But I believe I have read numerous reports hete that they are reliable.