? about Freeze Plug reinstallation

[Atljunglist]

Ok so i noticed i had a BAD coolant leak today. As soon as i started pouring antifreeze in the rad. it would start poring right back out of the back of the head. Then I noticed the freeze plug sitting on the ground underneath the car.
I know how to put a new one back in the head, my only question is what would be the best way to get room to put a new one back. I have an S14 with redtop SR and the freeze plug that popped is on the back of the head where the block almost sits flush to the firewall. The 2 options that i came up with are
1. Drop the tranny to get to it. or......
2. Pull the entire head
Please keep in mind that this is not gonna be done in a shop with a lift. What do you guys think would be the easiest way to get this done, Im open to all suggestions. Thanks in advance for the responses.

[aa87]

honestly, my top preference would be pull the motor out, but id rather pull a tranny than take off the head.

[Atljunglist]

honestly, my top preference would be pull the motor out, but id rather pull a tranny than take off the head.
do you think it would be easier to pull the motor??

[j20accord00]

im down to like an hour and a half give or take for taking the motor out..well me and one of my buddies..but if you got the right tools, and a hoist its not bad at all..have some1 under neath the car doing the trans, dp, harness, clutch slave, drive shalf and trans mount and everything else on top..pull that shit lol

-Evan

[mydogsdrift]

Pull the block out. You are going to need room to pound the plug back in anyway so you may as well pull out. It's going to be a pain in the ass either way but if you do it right you wont' even have to take it off the hoist. Just lift it out and as soon as you have access to the hole put it in and drop the motor back in.

[JDMClifford]

ya faster the pull the motor, not if its your first time it might take a while, but it gets faster, with 2-3 people it only takes an hour MAX.

[Atljunglist]

Yea this would be my first pull. One of my buddies that is gonna help me keeps insisting that we take the cross member out and drop the trans thinking that the engine will tilt enough to get clearance to pound the plug back in. But when i look at it, it just doesnt seem like even if it did tilt there still wouldnt be enough room between the firewall to get it in.

[g6civcx]

Drop the gearbox. Then disconnect all the wiring, hoses, and motor mounts. I would go ahead and drop the radiator and turbo as well for clearance.

You can do all that in about 1 hour once the gearbox is out.

[infinitexsound]

loosing everything in front, loosen starter, and tranny. motor mounts etc etc etc.... and pull the motor up... easiest fastest way...beat it and pry it out... clean the surface area... little bit of wd40 for lube and tap a new one in... all that work to replace a 15 min replacement part... when the motors out... yay....

[lazierhobo]

when we put in freeze plugs at our shop we always use a special freeze plug locktight on the edges, i would recomend going out and getting a small thing of that. its in a red bottle, but it comes out blue. put a little of that on the edges, then take a big bolt or something that fits in the middle of the plug, and use that to pound it back in.

taking out the engine is gonna be the fastest most painless method.

[pr240sx]

Also, there is rubber freeze plugs that just slides in and you tighten a bolt to expand it.
Removing an engine just for a freeze plug is quite a chore.

[Atljunglist]

Update:
Fixed the problem a couple weeks ago.
Heres what we did.
Dropped the driveshaft. Dropped the cross member. Dropped the Tranny mount and the whole assembly rotated down giving enough clearance underneath the firewall to reinstall the plug on the back of the head. Wasnt that hard either.