Install freeze plug in 2002 Dodge Ram with 360 magnum..

Install freeze plug in 2002 Dodge Ram with 360 magnum.. - 02/02/15 08:35 AM

A have a leaking freeze plug in my 2002 Dodge Ram with 360 magnum. And of course the freeze plug that is leaking is the one located on the passenger side behind the engine mount!

What is the easiest way to get at this freeze plug and remove it? What is the best way to knock the old one out and put the new one in?

Should I try to support the engine on the passenger side while removing the engine mount to gain access to the freeze plug?

Posted By: 70Cuda383

Re: Install freeze plug in 2002 Dodge Ram with 360 magnum.. - 02/03/15 04:33 AM

If it were mine, I'd pull the engine and replace them all at once.

As long as your exhaust isn't rusted solid, you should be able to pull the whole motor in about 3 hours, figure an hour to do the plugs, and another 3-4 hours to reinstall everything.

If you've never done any heavy maintenance in the engine bay, then double the time estimate as you'll be fighting sized up bolts and stuff. Regardless, you'll be able to start on a Saturday morning and finish it by Sunday afternoon, and they'll all be fresh leak free plugs.

Posted By: Blakcharger440

Re: Install freeze plug in 2002 Dodge Ram with 360 magnum.. - 02/03/15 08:35 AM

Quote:

If it were mine, I'd pull the engine and replace them all at once.

As long as your exhaust isn't rusted solid, you should be able to pull the whole motor in about 3 hours, figure an hour to do the plugs, and another 3-4 hours to reinstall everything.

If you've never done any heavy maintenance in the engine bay, then double the time estimate as you'll be fighting sized up bolts and stuff. Regardless, you'll be able to start on a Saturday morning and finish it by Sunday afternoon, and they'll all be fresh leak free plugs.

Unfortunately no can do. This is my daily driver and I will not have anybody else helping me and would need to get it back on the road in short order.

Posted By: NTOLERANCE

Re: Install freeze plug in 2002 Dodge Ram with 360 magnum.. - 02/03/15 11:43 AM

If its behind the engine mount, I would get a bolt in plug. Trying to tap one in under the truck without a a straight shot is difficult if there is clearance to get this one in it will save alot of time.

Ive used these several times without issue.

Attached picture 8417588-FreezePlug.JPG

Posted By: 360view

Re: Install freeze plug in 2002 Dodge Ram with 360 magnum.. - 02/03/15 02:42 PM

I have not tried it on a 360 V8
but draining the coolant from the block
and holding small pieces of Dry Ice
against a freeze plug to deeply chill it has worked for me in the past.

If you can borrow one or a pair of those magnetically attached electric oil pan heaters and place it on the block as near as possible to the freeze plug hole, that will help too.

Chill the new freeze plug and it will go in easier.

Any left over dry ice can freeze off warts and moles.

Posted By: Supercuda

Re: Install freeze plug in 2002 Dodge Ram with 360 magnum.. - 02/03/15 04:51 PM

Quote:

If it were mine, I'd pull the engine and replace them all at once.

Listen to this.

I don't care if it's your DD, you have one rusted thru plug the rest are close. As soon as you seal up the leaker the next weak spot will go and you will spend more time dicking around with quick fixes than just doing it right.

Posted By: 70Cuda383

Re: Install freeze plug in 2002 Dodge Ram with 360 magnum.. - 02/05/15 02:14 AM

daily driver I get, but can you afford a weekend with it down? or 2 days if you work weekends.

don't need a helper. these engines are as simple as an engine an old muscle car engine, they just have a few more wires and sensors in the intake manifold/Throttle body due to the EFI, but the rest is NEARLY identical to a 1970s 360

by myself, I can have the motor out of my Dakota in about 3 1/2 hours--but I realize that's not fair because I've had it in and out before, so I have practice, and a very clean engine bay due to a stripped out model from the factory (no AC, Cruise, etc)

Posted By: 383man

Re: Install freeze plug in 2002 Dodge Ram with 360 magnum.. - 02/05/15 05:59 AM

I always would put my freeze plugs in with my 3 to 4 ft long 3/8 ext. Even inhard to get places it worked as the best tool for me. But you need to use the deep freeze plugs that are over 1/4" deep as the shallow ones would not go in as easy that way. I could be on alot of angle but I would work one side of the freeze plug in and then get my ext in the other corner of the freeze plug and slowly tap it in and then work it straight. It would put some small dents in the plug but it would not hurt it. I used the yellow weatherstrip glue on them also and they never leaked. The actual freeze plug tool never worked very good for me in hard to get angle's but I got them in with the long ext all the time as long as I used the deeper plugs. Ron