[coldtexan]

1987 22R engine had two leaking freeze plugs on the drivers side, the front one and the back one.

Not sure how anyone else has removed them but I dropped the exhaust pipe from the manifold to the cat converter; actually just moved it backwards. Then removed the front left tire. Truck was on a lift and I did all the work on the back plugfrom under the truck. The front plug I had to go just above the frame; reason for removing the tire.

Made a 24 inch punch out of steel rod and punched holes through the bottom of the freeze plugs. I welded an allen wrench to a piece of 1/2 inch drill rod about 24 inches long and used a slide hammer to remove the plugs. Front still came out very hard and I could not even reach it with my hands but held the plug with the allen wrench extension and drove the top of the plug inward. The allen wrench held the plug and did not allow it to fall into the block.

Putting brass plugs back in, do not want to have to do this again.

If anyone is doing this hope this helps. You could probably do this laying under the truck but would be a lot harder. The main thing is I did not have to remove the exhaust manifold.

Coldtexan

 

[Flashmn]

.... I hit the freeze plug on one side with a screwdriver and hammer, then it turns about 90degrees, I take a set of lock pliers and just pull it out...
Your method is crazy and way more work than needed.

 

[coldtexan]

Nice to know there is only one way to do something. I will admit if the freeze plugs can be reached easily your method works fine.

IF however the plugs can not be reached or they are corroded to the point of just punching holes in them or IF there is concern about driving the plugs into the block and loosing them my method with the allen wrench welded to a rod to hold the plug while you tap on it with what ever works real well and you will not loose the plug into the block.

Your resident name is appropriate.

 

[DCM]

I use the same method as Flashmn, that was the most efficient method we used at the engine rebuilding shop I used to work at. If a screwdriver isn't long enough, any punch or small-diameter rod will work. The 22R's are about the easiest engine you could ever hope to work on.
You can also drill a hole in each frost plug and thread in a large self-tapping screw welded to a slide hammer, that way you can reuse it on each plug.

Flashmn may be quick with the cynicism, but he's got experience.

 

[Flashmn]

Your resident name is appropriate.

:crybaby:

Flashmn may be quick with the cynicism, but he's got experience.

Thanks for the support :thumbsup:

Theres a special tool also available that makes removal a piece of cake, it works by somehow flexing the edge so that it loses tension. I've installed the plugs with a socket thats the right size the plug and tapping it in.