stuck block drain

[Fernando Mendes]

Ok guys.I bought mine 5 pieces(5/16"-3/4") for R$67,00 or $35.

[lugnut123]

We have shrunk pin with liquid propane. You can do it with an older bottle. Turn it up side down. But be care ful.

[Don Coatney]

We have shrunk pin with liquid propane. You can do it with an older bottle. Turn it up side down. But be care ful.

Why do you say an older botle? And how do you tell the age of the bottle? Also Propane, being heavier than "air", will form a white cloud and hover close to the ground when released from the bottle and exposed to the atmosphere. Any flash in this white gas cloud will cause a big boom. How do you do this carefully?

[Fernando Mendes]

lugnut123 show us this process in youtube video.

[HanksB3B]

Is starting to give me toothache..Next we'll use the Nitrous Oxide and Novacaine if we don't either blow ourselves up first or need to have our fingers amputated from frostbite. Is is out yet? I'm dying to hear some progress, but don't mean to rush an important procedure. I realize this is a serious matter and I too would want to be very sure of what I would do.

Hank

[HanksB3B]

any progress?

Just wondering...

Hank

[DollyDodge]

I worked on in on Monday. I tried the freeze spray but it didn't work. I took the generator off to get better access to the plug and when I did that enough coolant came out of the engine to let me take the head off without having coolant to deal with. That was really all I needed to take the pedcock out was so I could draing the engine to work on the stuck valves. The pedcock is really messed up at this point. I was able to get a good bite with a pipe wrench and it simply would not move. I think it will need to be drilled out and tapped.

[HanksB3B]

a smaller diameter hole and then carefully collapsing the remaining part would result in just having to use a tap for cleaning up the remaing threads. Have you ground whatever is sticking out of the block flush and flat so you have a good clean starting point. Hopefully all will go well and in the end it'll turn out to be no big deal, just a minor inconvenience I hope.

Hank

[JBNeal]

BTW another advantage of drilling out with progressively larger bits is that the metal will gradually get hotter, causing some expansion of the surface of the threads. On some occasions, I've drilled on a busted bolt and eventually the remains of the bolt grabbed the sides of the bit...I then was able to back out the bolt with the drill bit, just like an extractor would.

[DollyDodge]

I think the pedcock passed being a minor inconvience in my mind:) That thing has driven me nuts and I think it finally won

[MBF]

Something else to try-left handed drill bits. The vibration of the drilling process may loosen it up enough to back it out after a couple of progressive holes. Last month when I had my engine apart I couldn't separate the manifold sections as the bolts were frozen. My machinist suggested heating the area around the bolt threads red hot and then trying a wrench on them with a little finesse. He said the cast iron of the manifolds and the steel in the bolts each had different expansion rates and with heat they'd loosen up. I kinda gave up on that, but out of curiosity I gave it a shot. All four came out easily! Gotta love that blue wrench! Mike

Edited March 31, 2010 by MBFowler

[Dodgeb4ya]

I think the pedcock passed being a minor inconvience in my mind:) That thing has driven me nuts and I think it finally won

I wouldn't give up after all the efforts if it was mine! I'd get my trusty hot wrench out and carefully heat and let it cool a couple of times and take that darn plug out and throw it as far as I could!

I must say I do a lot of welding so I know I could get er out as long as there is something to grab onto. If I was close by I'd do it for ya!

Bob

[DollyDodge]

I will get it out eventually, or my brother will. It is really his truck. I was just working on it to get it going so he could take it home. My little b-2-c is my main project.

[Fernando Mendes]

DollyDodge,I withdraw in mine GMC truck with a IRWIN VISE-GRIP Curved Jaw Locking Pliers.

[HanksB3B]

This guy has tried freezing, heating, twisting, and shouting...everything but dynamite. It's been over a month I think. I'm waiting to hear as well.

How are you,

Hank

[Fernando Mendes]

Hello Hank.I sent a message for you,month ago,I think you didn't see.It was about USA touristic route.This was a BLOCK DRAIN that I withdraw in mine GMC 1944 with a IRWIN VISE-GRIP curved jaw locking pliers.Since 2007 I try to withdraw this block drain and didn't get.It was because I didn't use a good pliers like IRWIN VISE-GRIP.Now I will drain all the water system(radiator & block) and put a monoethylenoglycol liquid,anticorrosive,completing with water.This product must stay during 6(six) months or 30.000 km.::p

[HanksB3B]

I never did get that message. Yours was brass and I think his is steel which makes for a tougher situation. Oh well, he probably got it out months ago and just never bothered to let anyone know, or he's waiting for the Spring Equinox to try again.

Thanks,

Hank

[Fernando Mendes]

This was the message I sent to you......Hank,in july'2011 a group of friends of mine,intend to go in the USA.I ask a question for you:for a person like me,that love antique cars(originals,not hot nor rat) very much.Which side/region of the USA(east or west,north or south) to see this kind of hobby to me propose the chief of the tour/excurcion?If you want to hear some of your friends?

[HanksB3B]

California of course!

Hank

[DollyDodge]

Hi all: I didn't mean to not finish the story. I didn't get the drain out. I got the engine running and my brother sent over a semi this week to haul the truck to his home in paso robles. I drove her right up the ramps. She ran good. I had to pull the head a few weeks ago and loosen up the valves as they had gotten stuck (5 of the six intake valves were stuck open). She needs choke to keep running and some have suggested a vacum leak. In any event my brother is having a mechanic rebuilt her. so they can fix all those things. I felt sad seeing her go. She arrived at my grandfathers ranch in 1949 and never left the place except a few trips, including one to Texas to go get some bulls. I have uploaded some photos in my album showing the truck loaded up and attached one to this post

[John-T-53]

That's one heck of a trip, all the way around the Sierras, through the desert, across the valley, and into the hills of El Paso de Robles. Last time I did that one was to go skiing at June Lake with a group of college friends from Cal Poly. One of our female class mates' family ran the resort up there, the Fosters, and they still live in Bishop. I think she goes by the name Hennarty now...

Anyways, good luck, and hopefully the ol' gal returns home soon. If she needs radiator work while gettin' fixed up, there's a good shop over there called Atascadero Radiator I would highly recommend.

[DollyDodge]

Hi John: Both my brother and I also went to Cal Poly and made that trip many a time. It is a long way over there. The old truck is going over there to stay. My brother wants to fix her up and use here in his small vineyard. The truck is in amazing shape, even the original wiring is good for the most part. The truck was mainly only run in the summer during hay season to haul hay and other small jobs. Every fall she was drained of coolant, and sat through the winter. I don't think she has very many miles at all. The odometer doesn't work, but I know how little she was used during my life and it wasn't much.

Later,