Compared to the rest of the components in your race engine, freeze plugs are a nickel-and-
In your racecar, a cracked block from frozen coolants in the winter isn't usually the problem. Leaking freeze plugs that dump coolant on the track, however, is. If you have a freeze plug work its way loose either from the vibrations from an engine operating at extended high-rpm levels or from occasional overheating, the coolant dump is usually right in the path of your rear tires. And a spin-out or wreck from a faulty plug is the last thing you want.
Of course, it is rare for a freeze plug to pop all the way out and dump coolant all over the racetrack. The more common problem is a slow leak that aggravates you to death. It is hardly worth pulling the engine to replace one plug, but the result is a slow coolant leak that constantly makes your car nasty.
With that in mind, here are a few tips for installing leak-free freeze plugs.
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Freeze plugs can normally be bought in packs sized specifically for your engine from most
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You generally want to avoid the steel plugs (left) and instead use brass freeze plugs (rig
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Most packs of freeze plugs for Chevrolet small-blocks will also include several press-in p
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If you need to remove an old set of freeze plugs, the easiest method that also won't hurt
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Once you get the plug spun in the hole, you can use a pair of pliers to pry the plug from
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Remember the press-in plugs we showed you earlier? The three holes in the front of the blo