freeze plugs blew out

[PaulRV6]

My car is stored in the garage but completely forgot about only having water in the cooling system. Looked under to find a dropped bolt and saw 2 freeze plugs laying on the floor and a puddle of water. Can these be replaced with the engine in the car? I hate to pull it out for that. I'm not sure exactly which ones but will have to check. Is there anything else I need to be concerned about breaking?

paul

 

[TurboCrazy]

YES! The block itself. It is a rare occasion that the freeze plugs actually save the block. I would pull the motor and inspect every inch of the block very carefully for cracks. If you don't find any cracks in the block! GO BUY A LOTTERY TICKET!:biggrin: Then put freeze plugs back in the block, cross your fingers and hope for the best. BTW, the only way to know for sure that the block is not cracked somewhere is to have it magnafluxed. $$$
Not what you wanted to here, I'm sure.

My .02, Brandon

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

Well, hopefully that is all that is wrong with the motor. Normally they pop out and the freezing continues. Hopefully the block is not cracked or that the cyl wall isnt cracked.

Ive done some of the freeze plugs on the side of the road in a stage block with a claw hammer and had them seal pretty good. It was a bad deal, they fell out going down the road under boost.


I would warm the car up in the garage(not running the car), remove the spark plugs and add the coolant.

If a cylinder fills with coolant when you fill the radiator, then the headgasket shrank or the cyl wall is bad. It will pour out the spark plug hole.

If you just put the freeze plugs in and fill up the radiator, then you will hydrolock then engine, you wont even be able to crank it over!

Here was the car i purchased with a bad cyl wall and actually did some serious damage. I purchased the car broken.

 

[turbofabricator]

I agree, that is RARELY a good thing. They really aren't "freeze" plugs. The only reason they are there in the first place is to give the foundry a place to knock the sand outta it after pouring the molten iron. There is soooo much surface area that is subject to expanding H2O, that the plug is really not helpful. BUT with that being said, it won't hurt to give it a try. You may have good karma coming to you. Do as Quick6 suggested andkeep your fingers crossed. Good luck.

 

[84BuickGNYorkPA]

This past month in PA we had several 8 deg nights, probably colder up in NY.
I think that I would be looking for a block, there was a guy in NJ that just had three for sale @ $300/each. Try this link.
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/parts-sale/208949-richs-auto-garage-sale.html
Chuck