Engine block drain plug

Unknown

I decided to drain the radiator and block and replace the coolant in my 54 Wasp. The block plug was already bunged up, and I spent a couple of hours trying vise grips, a pipe wrench, etc, but no dice. The space is too close for a regular drill, any advice to remove this @#$%#%@# thing? :mad:

I hate replacing only a portion of the coolant, although it seems to run in the normal ranges OK. There is some rusty sludge that keeps floating around that I'd like to get rid of.

Thanks,

Bruce

Unknown

Bruce,

My goodness, I have a whole bucket full of "trophies" of things like this. Many of them are off German cars with that white thread locking compound that NEVER comes off! Is it an external head, hex or square head plug-- or an internal head pipe plug (such as what you'd insert a 3/8 drive ratchet into)? If it is external hex head and it protrudes from the block, I'd try a Craftsman Bolt-Out tool. These things are great for removing stubborn crap. Alternatively you can either file the thing square and put a wrench on it, or cut a slot into it with a cut-off tool or hacksaw and use a flat screwdriver adapter for a 1/2" drive socket wrench to pull it out (since you cant fit an impact wrench in there). If it's square head I don't know if the bolt-out would work or not. Soak that thing to the gills with penetrating oil (I like LPS, but your preference) for a while. You may want to get out your gas-axe and apply a little heat around it; the thermal expansion often helps. In really stupid occasions I have been known to tack weld a nut to the thing and wrench if off. When you get it out, put a petcock back in its place, with anti-sieze on the threads. Let me know how you fare.



Best Regards,

[Deleted User]

Hi Bruce---To drain the block, merely remove one of the bolts on the water jacket. I forget which one for sure, but try the one closest to the drain plug first. Some of those drain valves are impossible to open or remove. Cliff Minard.

[Deleted User]

Bruce, sorry for the bad information as I was confusing your problem with the old splasher engines & of course the later pressure fed engines are entirely different.---Cliff Minard.

hudsontech

BDN54 wrote:

I decided to drain the radiator and block and replace the coolant in my 54 Wasp. The block plug was already bunged up, and I spent a couple of hours trying vise grips, a pipe wrench, etc, but no dice. The space is too close for a regular drill, any advice to remove this @#$%#%@# thing? :mad:

I hate replacing only a portion of the coolant, although it seems to run in the normal ranges OK. There is some rusty sludge that keeps floating around that I'd like to get rid of.

Thanks,

Bruce

If I remember correctly you can pull the mud pan on the inside (yeah, yeah, lot of work) and open up the whole wheel well to get at the thing.



Hudsonly,

Alex B