I blew a freeze plug.... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chucks1967 · 03-24-2009, 08:55 AM

Do I need to pull the motor or is there enough room to replace while in the truck. its the freeze plug directly behind the motor mount. My thought was to loosen the mount from the block and jack the motor up and try to get to it from under the truck. I don't have a engine picker available to me at the moment and need to get it back on the road quick. Whats your opinion?

**Corts60** · 03-24-2009, 09:21 AM

I would try your best to get the plug in with the engine still in, if time is an issue. I once had a Toyota motor blow out a freeze plug and I just hammered the same old plug back in and drove it for another couple thousand miles...Make sure you check out everything else though after you start it to make sure nothing cracked.....

TheDark1 · 03-24-2009, 10:03 AM

If you really need to, you could get a screw in type. They're a lot easier to put in and will get you out trouble really quick.

chucks1967 · 03-24-2009, 10:14 AM

yea but if im going to get in there to pull the old one out I might as well put in another absolute solution. Im just wandering if there is enough room to jack up the motor and pound in another cap? would be OK if it was the back one, but its the one right under the motor mount.

shrunken66stroker · 03-24-2009, 10:16 AM

We might be talking about the same thing but there are rubber ones that are expandable. there is a nut on one side and as you tighten it expands to seal the hole. I dropped the same plug out a few years ago and it worked well. It's about 8-10 bucks. Not permanent but it will get you back on the road till you can find a picker to borrow and hammer one in. GL

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDark1

If you really need to, you could get a screw in type. They're a lot easier to put in and will get you out trouble really quick.

shrunken66stroker · 03-24-2009, 10:19 AM

You might be able to get it in without even loosening the motor mounts to put in the expandable one. I assume they're stock mounts. How much room between the mount and the block? The plug is only about an inch thick.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chucks1967

yea but if im going to get in there to pull the old one out I might as well put in another absolute solution. Im just wandering if there is enough room to jack up the motor and pound in another cap? would be OK if it was the back one, but its the one right under the motor mount.

shrunken66stroker · 03-24-2009, 10:25 AM

I'm not sure if you can get it in there or not. I found this old pic of mine and it looks tight. You may have to loosen the mount and jack it up somehow. Be careful and put a safety in there somewhere so the engine doesn't move while your hands are in there.

**Chevy Fleetside** · 03-24-2009, 10:37 AM

Looks like if you remove the mount and the perch you might have enough room to get in there. It won't be easy but just take your time. and make sure the engine is saftly propped up. You can even put a piece of 2x4 under the pan and crossmember to hold it up.

chucks1967 · 03-24-2009, 10:39 AM

thats exactly what mine looks like... sept yours is a lot cleaner. I thought about jacking it up and taking out the motor mount and frame mount to open up some room. Ill put a couple jack stands under the pan and transmission. does this sound like a plan, or should i just bite the bullet and pull the motor?

shrunken66stroker · 03-24-2009, 10:46 AM

You can jack it up and take the mount and perch out and you should have plenty of room. Make sure it's secure! You can probably let it sag down a little and get to it from the bottom easiest. It's only going to take a few taps from a hammer to get a brass plug in. I've used an inch or inch and an eighth socket to hammer it in straight. I forget the exact size but use the biggest one that fits in there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chucks1967

thats exactly what mine looks like... sept yours is a lot cleaner. I thought about jacking it up and taking out the motor mount and frame mount to open up some room. Ill put a couple jack stands under the pan and transmission. does this sound like a plan, or should i just bite the bullet and pull the motor?

chucks1967 · 03-24-2009, 10:54 AM

10-4 Thanks for the Info. Ill let yall know how it turns out... that is unless the motor falls on my face.

apachedaddy · 03-24-2009, 11:52 AM

I would take a look at the dizzy befor you jack it up or you might end up buying a new cap.

chucks1967 · 03-24-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apachedaddy

I would take a look at the dizzy befor you jack it up or you might end up buying a new cap.

the dizzy?

apachedaddy · 03-24-2009, 12:06 PM

The distributor. Some guys have a clearance issues and if you jack up the eng you may bust the cap on the firewall.

**Corts60** · 03-24-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apachedaddy

I would take a look at the dizzy befor you jack it up or you might end up buying a new cap.

That statement makes me dizzy....

**Chevy Fleetside** · 03-24-2009, 03:20 PM

If you put a jack stand under you oil pan, make sure you have a nice flat piece of wood on top so you don't crush the middle of the pan. Make sure the wood goes from side to side.

chucks1967 · 03-24-2009, 03:31 PM

yea that would be a lot of weight on that.. good point thanks.

kizer · 03-25-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chevy Fleetside

If you put a jack stand under you oil pan, make sure you have a nice flat piece of wood on top so you don't crush the middle of the pan. Make sure the wood goes from side to side.

I've seen that mistake done twice before.

What you don't think this 2x4 is strong enough? Yeah its strong enough to punch a dent in your pan.

**Chevy Fleetside** · 03-25-2009, 07:00 PM

The wood has to go around the bottom of the pan. It cannot be in the middle. It would be the same as if you were setting the engine on the floor.

03-24-2009, 08:55 AM	#1
chucks1967 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: athens alabama Posts: 93	I blew a freeze plug.... Do I need to pull the motor or is there enough room to replace while in the truck. its the freeze plug directly behind the motor mount. My thought was to loosen the mount from the block and jack the motor up and try to get to it from under the truck. I don't have a engine picker available to me at the moment and need to get it back on the road quick. Whats your opinion?

03-24-2009, 09:21 AM	#2
Corts60 Just here to tinker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Holland, MI Posts: 3,697	Re: I blew a freeze plug.... I would try your best to get the plug in with the engine still in, if time is an issue. I once had a Toyota motor blow out a freeze plug and I just hammered the same old plug back in and drove it for another couple thousand miles...Make sure you check out everything else though after you start it to make sure nothing cracked..... __________________ 78 C10 SWB Diesel #1 (wrecked)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...1978+silverado 78 C10 SWB Diesel #2 (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=650751 60 GMC Suburban (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=445526 60 GMC 1000 (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=298235 67 GMC 1500 (sold) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=803695 73 Chevy C20(Daily)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=852767 86 Suburban(summer unit) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=810697 88 Suburban 4x4(sold)

03-24-2009, 10:03 AM	#3
TheDark1 Intentionally Left Blank Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Broussard, LA Posts: 355	Re: I blew a freeze plug.... If you really need to, you could get a screw in type. They're a lot easier to put in and will get you out trouble really quick. __________________ 1965 C-10 Short Fleet 468/TKO 5-Speed 2004 2500HD Crew 496/Ally Blacked Out (SOLD!!) 1997 Formula WS6 2004 Jeep Wrangler (Sold) 2013 Jeep Wrangler (Sold) 2017 Jeep Wrangler (Blacked Out on 35's) 2011 GMC D-Max Dually Denali 3500HD (Sold) 2015 GMC D-Max Dually Denali 3500HD (Sold) 2018 GMC D-Max Dually Denali 3500HD (Sold) 2020 D-Max Dually Denali on 33x12.50's 1979 GMC Short Bed Step-Side 4x4 350/350 Low Miles

03-24-2009, 10:14 AM	#4
chucks1967 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: athens alabama Posts: 93	Re: I blew a freeze plug.... yea but if im going to get in there to pull the old one out I might as well put in another absolute solution. Im just wandering if there is enough room to jack up the motor and pound in another cap? would be OK if it was the back one, but its the one right under the motor mount.

03-24-2009, 10:25 AM	#7
shrunken66stroker Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Las Vegas, Nv Posts: 954	Re: I blew a freeze plug.... I'm not sure if you can get it in there or not. I found this old pic of mine and it looks tight. You may have to loosen the mount and jack it up somehow. Be careful and put a safety in there somewhere so the engine doesn't move while your hands are in there. Attached Images __________________ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...54#post3194654

03-24-2009, 10:37 AM	#8
Chevy Fleetside Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,782	Re: I blew a freeze plug.... Looks like if you remove the mount and the perch you might have enough room to get in there. It won't be easy but just take your time. and make sure the engine is saftly propped up. You can even put a piece of 2x4 under the pan and crossmember to hold it up. __________________ "A man and his truck, what a beautiful thing" 65 Short Fleetside BBC 65 Long Fleetside 283 3 on the tree for now. my build thread http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=259536

03-24-2009, 10:39 AM	#9
chucks1967 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: athens alabama Posts: 93	Re: I blew a freeze plug.... thats exactly what mine looks like... sept yours is a lot cleaner. I thought about jacking it up and taking out the motor mount and frame mount to open up some room. Ill put a couple jack stands under the pan and transmission. does this sound like a plan, or should i just bite the bullet and pull the motor?

03-24-2009, 10:54 AM	#11
chucks1967 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: athens alabama Posts: 93	Re: I blew a freeze plug.... 10-4 Thanks for the Info. Ill let yall know how it turns out... that is unless the motor falls on my face.

03-24-2009, 11:52 AM	#12
apachedaddy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: pooler, GA Posts: 213	Re: I blew a freeze plug.... I would take a look at the dizzy befor you jack it up or you might end up buying a new cap.

03-24-2009, 12:06 PM	#14
apachedaddy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: pooler, GA Posts: 213	Re: I blew a freeze plug.... The distributor. Some guys have a clearance issues and if you jack up the eng you may bust the cap on the firewall.

03-24-2009, 03:20 PM	#16
Chevy Fleetside Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,782	Re: I blew a freeze plug.... If you put a jack stand under you oil pan, make sure you have a nice flat piece of wood on top so you don't crush the middle of the pan. Make sure the wood goes from side to side. __________________ "A man and his truck, what a beautiful thing" 65 Short Fleetside BBC 65 Long Fleetside 283 3 on the tree for now. my build thread http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=259536

03-24-2009, 03:31 PM	#17
chucks1967 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: athens alabama Posts: 93	Re: I blew a freeze plug.... yea that would be a lot of weight on that.. good point thanks.

03-25-2009, 07:00 PM	#19
Chevy Fleetside Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,782	Re: I blew a freeze plug.... The wood has to go around the bottom of the pan. It cannot be in the middle. It would be the same as if you were setting the engine on the floor. __________________ "A man and his truck, what a beautiful thing" 65 Short Fleetside BBC 65 Long Fleetside 283 3 on the tree for now. my build thread http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=259536

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