Cracked freeze plug, (67-72 advice please)

[The Big Green]

I need help from 67-72 guys is the reason a engine question is here. Here's a short story leading to the failure. I have a 8-10 year old engine that gas prices forced a rebuild to stock. I left the heads and should'nt have because they started burning oil. I rebuilt them and the freeze plug rusted and now it's leaking, a loose radiator slows this but it needs fixed. I used this truck for shows but I want it as a driver. I've rebuilt the whole top end in the truck, that's simple, I've replaced bad bearings because of a cam failure and a lobe going flat all with the engine in the truck. The freeze plug isn't a simple one to get to but not the hardest. It's behind the passenger engine mount, so I can't see how bad it's broke but I know the water is coming from there. Has anyone replaced this or any of them at all with the engine in the truck? This is a 2wd '67 with 73-87 mounts. I may take a cherry picker and raise the engine up and pull that engine mount and knock it out. I just wanted a heads up on what I'm looking at.
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[hayhauler71]

If you can get the old one out the copper plug is very simple to install here is a link
http://www.dormanproducts.com/c-353-...al-copper.aspx

[Lee H]

Yes, raise it up, remove the mount, replace the freeze plug the best you can and put back together. It's a PITA but doable. Keep in mind that if one is bad, there will be more.

[The Big Green]

I've tapped on the ones I can get to and they are solid. For all I know it had a bad plug in that side. I know one thing, I'm not ready to tear the engine down because I'm afraid the others are bad. I'd tear into it but right now I also have a body swap taking place on my rockcrawler and I'm about to tub my drag truck I think.
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[ajbelfair]

I recently had a buddy in the same boat. Spent a Saturday replacing it, and two weeks later, another one went. You'd probably be best pulling the motor and doing them all. It's a pain as someone else mentioned, but cheap insurance.

[Tx Firefighter]

The same coolant cycles past all of the plugs. If one has corroded out, the others can't be far behind. I'd change all of them on the sides of the block while you're doing that one.

[cdowns]

i too wood replace the easy to get at ones on the block

i just take a screwdriver and hammer it thru the center of the plug and just pop them out a light cleanup with 220paper and press the new ones in place

[OhOneWS6]

Your going to spend a lot of time and frustration trying to do that one in the truck. As other have said, the rest can't be far behind. Save yourself all that frustration and pull the motor and replace all of them. You will be glad you did in the end.

[boundstaffpress]

Been there done that.
Pull the motor, and replace all of the plugs even the two on the back side of the block between the block and the transmission.

I replaced all the others. Drove the truck. Then hooked it up to tow home, and when we pulled up to get gas, coolant was just pouring out from between the block and trans. Very glad I had made arrangements to tow instead of drive the second truck.