Freeze plug issues

last week when i put water into my radiator, i noticed i had a dribble coming from the rear passenger freeze plug, so i pulled the torsion bar and steering linkage and unbolted the tti header and am letting it dangle loose in the fenderwell. well i popped out the old freeze plug and while trying to get it out lost it in the block... oops, anyways put new freezeplug in and im having the same issue, still dribbling, i dont think its a bad freezeplug issue, more so it seemed like there wasnt quite the taper on the block, where this freezeplug goes in compared to the others, at least it seemed like the others had a taper.... what should i do? ive heard of heat cycling the motor a few times and it may solve the issue, but if its dribbling this bad now i cant imagine once the water pump is going and the system is under pressure.... any suggestions? jb weld? idk im kinda outa ideas and frustrated... really wanting to fire up this motor ill take any suggestions, thanks fabo!

I had this issue with the passenger front plug. I put a rubber expanding type in and fixed it right up.

Something like this: Dorman Products 02606: Rubber Expansion Plug Universal | JEGS

Just make sure you get the right diameter

Channel locks will pull the old freeze plug out of the hole where it went in.

Indian head gasket cement around a new plug and drive it in.

Rubber plugs are a temp fix to get the car home or to the shop. Rubber plugs will pop out under pressure.

It didn't leave the factory dribbling so the machining was probably fine. Pull the replacement, fish out and pull the first leaky one, then take some emery paper and make sure there is no rust ridge or crap on the bore. Use a mirror or your finger to verify there's no groove from an idiot using a chisel to remove the OEM one. If it's all flat, and bare iron, clean the bore off with brake clean, and use a small amount of sealer of your choice (I use Ultra Grey, Black, or Red silicone) and drive the 3rd one in. Make sure it's in far enough. Even with deep design plugs the bevel around the outer edge should be visible.

There's also a 3 piece brass plug that has a nut you'll tighten in its center to expand it. I've had a lot of good results with those over the years. And when a rear plug is dripping on one side I usually find the same location on opposite side damp. So weak that I could poke my screw driver through it. One becomes 2 or even 4 ( my last rodeo ).

never heard of indian head gasket cement... would some permatex suffice? would high heat or water resistant be the best choice? again thanks fabo!

I am with moper. I have had the best luck using RTV of some sort. That's what it's made for. Leaks. It is liquid rubberized silicone based sealer. That's what it was designed for. It fills in the smallest of irregularities and prevents leaks. That is what I would use.

UDUST81 said:

never heard of indian head gasket cement... would some permatex suffice? would high heat or water resistant be the best choice? again thanks fabo!

Click to expand...

CRC makes K&W Copper coat gasket compound. Samething as Indian Head. They both use copper in them.

I have never used silicone sealers on freeze plugs but I have used engine paint on them. Spray a couple of coats on them an drive them in. Last coat is still sticky when I do.

Indian Head is very strong sealer. It's ben around since the first internal combustion engine started leaking...lol. Literally. But - It hardens over time, and it's a bear to get off if you have to change anything. It's in a small brown bottle, and any parts guy older than 50 will know what you're talking about. Silicone's easier to work with IMO.