Help/advice please!

[rossk]

So after the Dart being off the road for far too long I’ve finally got a day off from work and a long weekend to have a go at getting her running right.

Recently replaced the fuel pump with a nice Holley one and she won’t start with about a bit of easy start help in the carb and I’m not sure why? I figured it’s due to change in fuel delivery, timing, mixtures etc.

Anyway had it running for about 30 minutes whilst messing about with the carb and finally it was starting to sound like an engine again when all of a sudden I have coolant spraying out the back of the engine! Just my luck!

With the use of a mirror and a cleverly positioned light I’ve established that the freeze plug on the back of the head on the drivers side has a hole the size of a pin head and is squirting out coolant on to the bulk head.

I’m really hoping it’s not the case but it looks like due to the lack of space it could mean the engine has to come out?

Has anyone changed one before and if so any tips on a way to do it without having to drop the engine, I think I may have space to hook out the old plug, but getting any force to push the new one in looks tricky

Any advice would be appreciated as I’ve just signed up for speedfest & really want to go in the dart as turning up to the MMA display in the wife’s Chevy truck wouldn’t look to good

[Pete]

If you are absolutely sure it is the head and not a Block Core plug that has failed, You can get the head off with the engine in the car but it is still a pain as you will need Head gasket, inlet gasket, Header Gasket, etc.

However, it is probably easier than pulling the motor.

Avoid steel core plugs if you can and Silicon them in. Check the other Core plugs as they are probably not far behind...

[rossk]

I was thinking about just taking the head off rather than taking the engine out, very annoying!

[db]

Just lateral thinking... There's usually one or two threaded holes in the end of cylinder heads. I wonder if you could screw a bolt partly into one, maybe with a thick washer, and use that as a fulcrum for a lever to push the new core plug in, maybe with a snug fitting socket in the core plug to push against?

[rossk]

I did think about that, pry bar with a block of wood on the bulkhead too? I’ve just ordered myself a porta-power I used to use them in my bodywork days. Hopefully I can use the hydraulic jaw, one side against the bulkhead and the other side pushing against the freeze plug (via a socket or similar) might work?

[MattH]

If its a pin hole, can you get a small self tapper in with some silicon round it? I know its a bodge and only temporary but Ive seen it done as a get you home measure.

Thinking you might not have the room though??

[rossk]

I tried removing the steering column to gain access through the hole in the bulkhead, managed to get the old one out and pushed the new one in, but couldn’t get it all the way in place, no matter what I tried. In the end yesterday afternoon at about 1, I just went for it and starting stripping the engine down, managed to get the head off, plug in and back on the car with only the intake, and header to reinstall by about 9pm, so I thought that was pretty good going.

[MattH]

Thats very good going, especially in the heat yesterday. It's amazing what a deadline can spur you on to do!!