Freeze Plug Repaired!!!!

[55 Fargo]

Hi all, pulled the clutch, flywheel, bellhousing, the freeze plug was leaking, it was brass, and not rusted out. Cleaned up the area, even though I flushed the block, replaced freeze plugs, pulled water tube, there was a half-pint of crud in the hole,in the back of the block. I rodded it ouit cleaned it suctioned out what was there, flushing on my garage floor was not an option.

I reinstalled a 1/58 freeze plug, with silicone adhesive, gave it a good whack in the center, the plug went in a tight fit, so I sure hope it's set in enough. The clutch and disc, need rebuilding, the flywheeel needs to be machined. Not a pleasant job to do, sure hope my work holds out, the flywheel, was a real beach to get out................Fred

[Plymouthy Adams]

Good deal and cleaning the rear of the block with the tube removed will greatly benefit your engine..even after all you had done earlier it was a bit warm running at times..maybe this is the ticket to a cooler running engine..

I know you wee not prepared for the added cost of the clutch/flywheel but hey....it is cheap insurance compared to doing it later...

Bet you will sleep good tonight knowing that headache is behind you...

[55 Fargo]

Tim, I sure hope so, my only concern is if I set the plug well enough. I put a super big magnet on it, it did not pull it off so it must be set, used Permatex Black silicone, around the plug and the opening, hope this also helps, I know silicone is darn yough when cure, heck it holds glass together for big aquairiums. Keep my fingers crossed, But that flywheel was tough to get out, the ring gear should be pulled of it and put on the other way there is some teeth wear on it...........Fred

[Normspeed]

Fred, as long as you put a nice dimple in the face of the plug it should be solid. Plus, it's a zero pressure cooling system. Should be just fine.

[55 Fargo]

Norm, there was a dimple, but not big, the plug went in snug, because I checked it before I actually installed it, I needed a magnet to get it out. Do you think the silicone will help to keep it bonded, when I drilled a hole inthe old brass plug, it practically fell out on it's own, the side plugs did not do this when I replaced them, the brass pplug was not sitting sqaurely in the hole either, it was lopsided.The anitfreeze was leaking around the outer edges, the plug was not rusted at all, the opening cleaned up nicely.........Fred

[55 Fargo]

Hi all, filled my cooling system up at 0730 this morning, upon my return from work. It is now, 2:51 PM and there is no eveidence of any antifreeze leaking, "touch wood". I have a clean piece of news paper directly under the open bell housing, no leaking evident, I think she is good to go.Next the flywheel is going to be machined, the pressure palte and disc need overhaulin or replacing. The clutch is a 9 and 1/4, am I measuring this correctly. Did notice the ring gear has some teeth wear, can it be reversed on the flywheel, to have the good side facing the starter, or should I leave it alone................Fred

[55 Fargo]

One discovery is that my big block 218, has an 8 bolt crank, so a fluid drive could go on this also, plus my current flywheel, and clutch could go on my spare engine, which is a 251, the engine I want to rebuild in the future. The clutch is a 9 and 1/4, not sure if they were as common as the 10 inch clutch or not..........Fred

[Plymouthy Adams]

Older model Dodge carried the 218 stock..last year was the 1941 it was a fluid drive automobile also.

[De Soto Frank]

You may have an eight-hole crank-flange, but is the bell-housing deep enough to accomodate a Fluid Coupling ?

Non FD cars, like my '41 De Soto, have a bell-housing that is not very deep at all - there's probably not enough room to squeeze you hand in between the back of the pressure-plate and the bell housing...

Also, factory FD cars had the rear cross-member (the one that goes under the bell-housing ) located further back in the chassis than the same model car with a dry-clutch...

Hope your leak is fixed !

Frank McMullen

[55 Fargo]

Hi Frank, I am aware the bellhousing is bigger, in fact I have one here at home, also a M5 Trans. The cross member was moved on my car, but can be moved back if wanted. I have no plans to go back to fluid drive at the moment, the 3spd and dry clutch, are simpler and hopefully will suit my needs, plus it has a lot more, off the line take off............Fred