best way to remove Crank Freeze Plug? UPDATED>>
06-03-2010, 01:01 PM
#1
best way to remove Crank Freeze Plug? UPDATED>> I need to replace the crank freeze plug on my 408 and want to know what is the best way to remove the old one.
I know that I can tap it in and let it fall into the pan and fish it out.
can I maybe pull it out so that I dont have to lower the pan?
anyone done this while the engine is on the car?
reason is that I have a small oil leak from there.
thanks
Edit: Well I started it again for a minute and the darn freeze plug just popped out. I think I did not get the right one since it went in so easy. I will call the GM dealership tomorrow and see if they have one for the LS1 engines since they are the same size I think. I measured the one I took out with a digital caliper reader and it reads right at 1"...I also measured the new one I got at autozone and it was the same size.
I did noticed that they are not the same look-alike. the old one is more domed where as the new one is more like a flat piece.
so Tomorrow I will see what I can find out.
thanks for reading.
I know that I can tap it in and let it fall into the pan and fish it out.
can I maybe pull it out so that I dont have to lower the pan?
anyone done this while the engine is on the car?
reason is that I have a small oil leak from there.
thanks
Edit: Well I started it again for a minute and the darn freeze plug just popped out. I think I did not get the right one since it went in so easy. I will call the GM dealership tomorrow and see if they have one for the LS1 engines since they are the same size I think. I measured the one I took out with a digital caliper reader and it reads right at 1"...I also measured the new one I got at autozone and it was the same size.
I did noticed that they are not the same look-alike. the old one is more domed where as the new one is more like a flat piece.
so Tomorrow I will see what I can find out.
thanks for reading.
Last edited by 98hc4mula; 06-04-2010 at 06:31 PM.
06-04-2010, 05:00 AM
#3
If you tap it in, don't believe it will get to the pan. I haven't checked the manual for removal, only installation. I wonder if you can punch a hole in the center and then extract it. Would need to consult the service manual to see how they remove.
06-04-2010, 10:02 AM
#4
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I haven't read the service manual either. Although, I wouldn't knock it in and let it fall down there. It may not fall to the pan. Plus taking out the pan, or lowering is time consuming.
I would oil up a drill bit and slowly drill the plug until you get through it. Oil will help prevent shavings from falling off the drill bit. As you're drilling (slowly) stop and remove the shavings every so often. Once you get done drilling, find a good tool to pry it out towards you. Maybe a flat blade with a curve. Once you get it, use the curved part and pull towards you.
Although, if you don't want to risk it, there is always another way. You might be able to find a tool that butts up against the plug then expands. Once you have expanded, you can pull the plug out. They might even make a tool that expands and has a slide hammer to help with removal.
Hope this helps
I would oil up a drill bit and slowly drill the plug until you get through it. Oil will help prevent shavings from falling off the drill bit. As you're drilling (slowly) stop and remove the shavings every so often. Once you get done drilling, find a good tool to pry it out towards you. Maybe a flat blade with a curve. Once you get it, use the curved part and pull towards you.
Although, if you don't want to risk it, there is always another way. You might be able to find a tool that butts up against the plug then expands. Once you have expanded, you can pull the plug out. They might even make a tool that expands and has a slide hammer to help with removal.
Hope this helps
06-04-2010, 10:51 AM
#5
How about one of thoses cheap body pullers. The kind that have like a T handle on one end and a sheet metal screw on the other and you slide a weight on it to pull out dings and stuff. Seems like you could make that work.
06-04-2010, 01:37 PM
#6
ok Im about to drill a hole thread a grade 8 bolt in it and use it as a lever to pull it out. hope it works.
Vetenutts: how exactly do you put the new one in>
do I just tap it in and then hit it in the center with a round end bolt so it expands?
thanks
Vetenutts: how exactly do you put the new one in>
do I just tap it in and then hit it in the center with a round end bolt so it expands?
thanks
06-04-2010, 03:31 PM
#7
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Removal can be as easy as VERY CAREFULLY and PRECISELY tapping the bottom (and when i say bottom i mean the lip) of the freeze plug with a punch or chisel until its knocked out crooked enough to grab with pliers and pullout. Be very careful not to hit the block, just the plug. Thats what I did to remove them. Installing them, what i did is place the plug in with your fingers, get it nice and straight, then take a big enough socket that matches up nicely with the plugs lips and the hole and lightly tap the socket to seat the plug into place.
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06-04-2010, 04:13 PM
#10
killroy thinks you are removing a freeze out plug!
Geez read the thread dood....
Listen carefully.....there is a good reason why the PLUG<not a freeze out plug> is leaking. FIND IT!
If you damage the edge of the crank getting the old one out the new PLUG<not freeze out plug> will leak too. There is probably a rough edge etc where the Press in PLUG seals that is causing it to leak. Tread carefully on this unless you like lots and lots of headaches.
Geez read the thread dood....
Listen carefully.....there is a good reason why the PLUG<not a freeze out plug> is leaking. FIND IT!
If you damage the edge of the crank getting the old one out the new PLUG<not freeze out plug> will leak too. There is probably a rough edge etc where the Press in PLUG seals that is causing it to leak. Tread carefully on this unless you like lots and lots of headaches.
06-04-2010, 05:30 PM
#12
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killroy thinks you are removing a freeze out plug!
Geez read the thread dood....
Listen carefully.....there is a good reason why the PLUG<not a freeze out plug> is leaking. FIND IT!
If you damage the edge of the crank getting the old one out the new PLUG<not freeze out plug> will leak too. There is probably a rough edge etc where the Press in PLUG seals that is causing it to leak. Tread carefully on this unless you like lots and lots of headaches.
Geez read the thread dood....
Listen carefully.....there is a good reason why the PLUG<not a freeze out plug> is leaking. FIND IT!
If you damage the edge of the crank getting the old one out the new PLUG<not freeze out plug> will leak too. There is probably a rough edge etc where the Press in PLUG seals that is causing it to leak. Tread carefully on this unless you like lots and lots of headaches.
06-04-2010, 05:43 PM
#13
ok this is what I did, I went and rented a blind hole puller to do the extraction. first I ended drilling a hole for the extractor to go into and then I attached it to the sliding hammer and it came out very easy.
Now I had purchased a 1" cap style plug from autozone since the Crank Manufacturer sad to do this.
I went to install it and it went super easy with me pushing on it. I then grabbed a punch with a perfecty round edge and punded it in the center a few times. I read somewhere that you had to do this in order to expand them.
I hope this does not leak again otherwise I will have to do it all over again but this time I will ask the crank mfg to send me a plug that they use.
I was very very careful not to damage the crank, trust me that I have been dreadening all day this job.
I will now bolt on the flexplate and start the car to check if it is leaking still.....
wish me luck.
Now I had purchased a 1" cap style plug from autozone since the Crank Manufacturer sad to do this.
I went to install it and it went super easy with me pushing on it. I then grabbed a punch with a perfecty round edge and punded it in the center a few times. I read somewhere that you had to do this in order to expand them.
I hope this does not leak again otherwise I will have to do it all over again but this time I will ask the crank mfg to send me a plug that they use.
I was very very careful not to damage the crank, trust me that I have been dreadening all day this job.
I will now bolt on the flexplate and start the car to check if it is leaking still.....
wish me luck.
06-04-2010, 08:01 PM
#17
The first one did not work, it was the incorrect size.....
well I found out that the 1 inch plug I bought first was too small, I went to oryellies and got one that is 1.019" so hopefully this one will be a good fit. I also got some Permatex gasket sealer that is resistant to oil so I can coat the sides of it before I pound it in.
well I found out that the 1 inch plug I bought first was too small, I went to oryellies and got one that is 1.019" so hopefully this one will be a good fit. I also got some Permatex gasket sealer that is resistant to oil so I can coat the sides of it before I pound it in.
06-04-2010, 08:46 PM
#18
The first one did not work, it was the incorrect size.....
well I found out that the 1 inch plug I bought first was too small, I went to oryellies and got one that is 1.019" so hopefully this one will be a good fit. I also got some Permatex gasket sealer that is resistant to oil so I can coat the sides of it before I pound it in.
well I found out that the 1 inch plug I bought first was too small, I went to oryellies and got one that is 1.019" so hopefully this one will be a good fit. I also got some Permatex gasket sealer that is resistant to oil so I can coat the sides of it before I pound it in.
