Need a GOOD expansion plug, leaky freeze plug
#1963069
12/04/15 01:28 PM
12/04/15 01:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365
Marion, South Carolina [><]
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I have a car w/ a 1.25" freeze plug on the rear of the cylinder head leaking. Can't drive in a new freeze plug in the car...would have to pull the head.
What type of expansion plugs have you used and had good luck with? This is a daily driver type car so I hope this fix will work for a good while.
The copper style expansion plugs look like they'd be a better long term solution than the rubber style.
Suggestions?
CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
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Re: Need a GOOD expansion plug, leaky freeze plug
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#1963080
12/04/15 01:38 PM
12/04/15 01:38 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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I use these.. I had a issue of blowing 1 freeze plug out on my R-3 block.. these work great.. its Doorsman EDIT Put some Permatex on the OD of the plug when installing 
Last edited by MR_P_BODY; 12/04/15 01:41 PM.
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Re: Need a GOOD expansion plug, leaky freeze plug
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#1963089
12/04/15 01:46 PM
12/04/15 01:46 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,160
Texas
dannysbee
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,160
Texas
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Need to clean it and get a picture of it. That will tell you what you need to do. Might be as easy as filling the center of the plug with jb weld.
Getting old just means you were smarter than some and luckier than others.
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Re: Need a GOOD expansion plug, leaky freeze plug
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#1963114
12/04/15 02:22 PM
12/04/15 02:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 403
southern Maryland
keefe
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 403
southern Maryland
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I had a freeze plug bad next to the firewall, ended up drilling the firewall and using a long extension to knock out the old one and using the extension with a socket to install the new one from inside the car.
I got a antenna type plug from Radio shack and some sealer for the firewall hole, it worked great.
I have never had any luck with expansion plugs
1971 duster twister 440, 3380#,509 M/P hyd,906's,full Exhaust,11.06@117.46 1/4,6.95@ 97.03 1/8,1.497 60ft.....
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Re: Need a GOOD expansion plug, leaky freeze plug
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#1963117
12/04/15 02:29 PM
12/04/15 02:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365
Marion, South Carolina [><]
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This particular vehicle would require some extensive dash disassembly to be able to drill an access hole through the firewall to R&R this plug.
The plug is corroding near the edge. Not a bad leak by any means, but it is leaking nonetheless. I thought about cleaning it and using some epoxy on it, but that doesn't seem like a reliable fix to me. Not for something I'll be driving 800+ miles one way w/ my family in the car pretty soon.
I think I'll try the copper plug and try to put some miles on it in the next few weeks to as show it holds up.
Thanks yall!
CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
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Re: Need a GOOD expansion plug, leaky freeze plug
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#1963512
12/05/15 01:06 AM
12/05/15 01:06 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 526
NC
barracuda man
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 526
NC
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This particular vehicle would require some extensive dash disassembly to be able to drill an access hole through the firewall to R&R this plug.
The plug is corroding near the edge. Not a bad leak by any means, but it is leaking nonetheless. I thought about cleaning it and using some epoxy on it, but that doesn't seem like a reliable fix to me. Not for something I'll be driving 800+ miles one way w/ my family in the car pretty soon.
I think I'll try the copper plug and try to put some miles on it in the next few weeks to as show it holds up.
Thanks yall! I had a few leaking on the durango.used rtv permetex black and small putty knife.sealed real nice.
Last edited by barracuda man; 12/05/15 01:08 AM.
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Re: Need a GOOD expansion plug, leaky freeze plug
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#1963556
12/05/15 02:41 AM
12/05/15 02:41 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 289
Lowes
steve660
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 289
Lowes
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Hey Chip, I had a radiator that would seep a little only when it got to operating temperature. We changed radiator cap from 16lb to 14lb and was enough to stop it. Lasted about a year that way but eventually had to repair radiator.
Maybe that combined with expansion plug will get ya a little more life out of it.
PSO headed 632 from MM. Cracked cylinder, loose valve seats, low oil pressure, low cylinder pressure.
..... Now its a door stop....
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Re: Need a GOOD expansion plug, leaky freeze plug
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#1963563
12/05/15 02:55 AM
12/05/15 02:55 AM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,257
gulfport, ms, west mi
rowin4
master
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master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,257
gulfport, ms, west mi
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Just my opinion why replaced freeze plugs fail [ pop out ] is that the use of a socket to drive them in pulls the sides in and reduces the side wall tension needed to seat it correctly. They should be tapped in on the outer rim, not inside of the cup.
it's ok to butt heads, just don't do it with a butthead
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Re: Need a GOOD expansion plug, leaky freeze plug
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#1964873
12/07/15 01:18 PM
12/07/15 01:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365
Marion, South Carolina [><]
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Well, the freeze plug ended up not being the problem. I pressurized the system and found a leaking water pump. The water leaking from the pump was getting blown around while driving and leaving traces at the rear of the engine. The one freeze plug looked very suspicious, but turned out to be just fine.
Thanks for the suggestions yall.
CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
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Re: Need a GOOD expansion plug, leaky freeze plug
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#1964884
12/07/15 01:38 PM
12/07/15 01:38 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365
Marion, South Carolina [><]
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Yes, more expensive, but much easier to fix. Got it done yesterday afternoon. Thanks. 
CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
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