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View Full Version : Lets talk about freeze plugs..

NemeGuero
10-01-2008, 09:57 AM
So I live in Southern Fucking California.

Cold? Whats that?

Anyway, I'm rebuilding a KA and I dont like freeze plugs.
I want to like, weld those holes shut.. all 7? of them? (2 on exhaust side, 3 on intake, 2 on rear?)

Long story short, I don't think my coolant will ever freeze, I don't like the possibility of these mofos leaking so I want a permanent fix.

Discuss please.
SexPanda
10-01-2008, 10:03 AM
if it aint broke, dont fix it. Thats the best advice I can give you.

You can hardly notice them, so its just extra work you dont need to be doing, imo.
NemeGuero
10-01-2008, 10:09 AM
That advice sucks. haha

pre-emptive maintenence and repair, son! Do it right or do it twice..
Fonix36
10-01-2008, 10:10 AM
hm i live in cali and i get what your talking about but welding them shut might not be the best choice
IIIXziuR
10-01-2008, 10:11 AM
Show Car Motor
Weld them shut
Polish/Chrome to block out
Jordn
10-01-2008, 10:12 AM
Climate change bishes - you'll be having British winters by 2011.
NemeGuero
10-01-2008, 10:15 AM
Climate change bishes - you'll be having British winters by 2011.

LOL best response yet!!
mrmephistopheles
10-01-2008, 10:18 AM
Climate change bishes - you'll be having British winters by 2011.

So long as we don't have British food! :keke:

I kid - I have lots of love for my UK brethren!
NemeGuero
10-01-2008, 10:25 AM
Kevin, thanks for your helpful input!

Way to demonstrate a higher standard of zilvian membership..
awesomenick
10-01-2008, 10:29 AM
You could just replace them all. The ones on my KA didn't leak until 185,000 miles, and even then it wasn't hard to fix. The large ones on the side of the block are the ones to be more concerned about.

If you want to be a bad ass you could use brass freeze plugs, instead of steel. I don't know about welding, but I thinkit would be hard to weld on the iron block.
NemeGuero
10-01-2008, 10:40 AM
Yah, I intend to use brass. I just didnt want any plug that could potentially leak anymore..
SlideWell
10-01-2008, 10:42 AM
Yah, I intend to use brass. I just didnt want any plug that could potentially leak anymore..

copper settles in nicely on steel lol
Jakob
10-01-2008, 10:44 AM
ok could someon please explain me, what those plugs are for?
im a freeze plug newb
DataXUnknown
10-01-2008, 10:47 AM
i used le brass on mine. i replaced that shit while it was still in the car! you know how much of a bitch that was? a couple of them were rusting through on the back of the block against the firewall...that was NOT fun to replace.

i'd say if it really bothers you, not to weld it shut but just paint it the same color as your block.
awesomenick
10-01-2008, 10:51 AM
ok could someon please explain me, what those plugs are for?
im a freeze plug newb

Say you didn't have a low enough freeze point on your coolant/ water mixture. The idea of freeze plugs is that when your coolant expands as it freezes, the freeze plugs will pop out instead of forcing the water to crack the block through it's expansion.

i used le brass on mine. i replaced that shit while it was still in the car! you know how much of a bitch that was? a couple of them were rusting through on the back of the block against the firewall...that was NOT fun to replace.

i'd say if it really bothers you, not to weld it shut but just paint it the same color as your block.

I changed mine with the engine in the car too, as long as they aren't the one's on the back of the block it's not too bad.
NemeGuero
10-01-2008, 10:52 AM
No, its not the color that bothers me.. I just dont want those fuckers to leak.
Om1kron
10-01-2008, 10:59 AM
contact ams and ask them how they plug their blocks, they may be willing to share their information.
projectRDM
10-01-2008, 11:15 AM
I've never seen a KA leak out the freeze plugs and I've torn down over a hundred of them by now. Those were all local SouthEastern cars so maybe the guys up North have issues but I doubt you'll ever see a leak unless they're installed incorrectly.
Plus welding to the block isn't exactly easy, the heat you'll need to get a good bead on cast iron is generally too hot for mild steel. I'm sure people do it in various ways but I don't see the point at all.
NemeGuero
10-01-2008, 11:59 AM
Worth it to replace them then?
awesomenick
10-01-2008, 12:09 PM
I would, especially if you're worried about them leaking so much. I got my car from AZ, and it had straight water in it when I got it. The freeze plugs were super rusty and corroded, one leaked. So I replaced them all for peace of mind. But I wouldn't worry too much about it. Even if they leak, it's not a hard fix. Even if they're the ones on the back, pulling a KA out is cake.
gotta240
10-01-2008, 12:36 PM
I've never seen a KA leak out the freeze plugs and I've torn down over a hundred of them by now. Those were all local SouthEastern cars so maybe the guys up North have issues but I doubt you'll ever see a leak unless they're installed incorrectly.
Plus welding to the block isn't exactly easy, the heat you'll need to get a good bead on cast iron is generally too hot for mild steel. I'm sure people do it in various ways but I don't see the point at all.


I JUST tore a ka down that had one rusted out and leaking. Surprised the shit outa me.


Mano- your idea is retarded. Replace with new plugs properly. DONE. If you do it correctly shit wont leak.
Om1kron
10-01-2008, 01:04 PM
You could always remove all of the freeze plugs and thread the holes, then screw in some fabricated plugs with thread lock so there is no chance those bitches will ever pop out.
sac
10-01-2008, 01:16 PM
That advice sucks. haha

pre-emptive maintenence and repair, son! Do it right or do it twice

Worth it to replace them then?

love the logic!
yes deffinately worth it to replace them.
Go brass. You will not have problems. But they arent impossible to change if you do.. Freeze plug tool at autozone works really good. drill a hole, and thread the screw part in. crank on that bitch till it comes out!
NemeGuero
10-01-2008, 01:21 PM
I JUST tore a ka down that had one rusted out and leaking. Surprised the shit outa me.


Mano- your idea is retarded. Replace with new plugs properly. DONE. If you do it correctly shit wont leak.

its not retarded and I'm not Mano. Asshole!

They aren't leaking now. I don't need them, I would like them sealed permanently.

But yah, a few posts up from yours I said I would replace them with brass anyway. so STFU. :kiss:
LA_phantom_240
10-01-2008, 01:34 PM
Use bubblegum
/thread
Ali 556
10-01-2008, 03:33 PM
dunno,

RB guys drill a thread into the rear ones on the head and plug a return oil line (-10)...b/c after high revving alot of oil stay up on The RB Head and that usuley make them spun bearing's....

Slap me if this didn't help,

Ali
surreybc
10-01-2008, 04:38 PM
just replace them if they are original. one of my mine spung a leak.

google 240sx freeze plug tutorial for write up
Otherworldview
10-01-2008, 04:59 PM
dunno,

RB guys drill a thread into the rear ones on the head and plug a return oil line (-10)...b/c after high revving alot of oil stay up on The RB Head and that usuley make them spun bearing's....

Slap me if this didn't help,

Ali

Completely unrelated. Tomei (http://www.rhdjapan.com/jdm-low/Tomei-Oil-Gallery-Orifice-RB26-RB25-RB20-10484) fixed that with an oil passage restriction to the head.