BBC Engine missing side caps?
 

I have a BBC and it seem to be missing those metal caps on the sides of the block, It has 2 holes for them on each side.

Anyone know where to order these? Also can they be pushed in from the outside in or is it more complicated than that?


Thanks in advance

Freeze plugs?

Yeah, didnt know what they were called. checked on google and thats them.

Get brass ones.

Balls or plugs ?

Ehhh, where did they go?

Bottom of bilge prob after winter

maybe a dingo ate them.

Next post will be 'I have the caps, anybody have a bock?"

Blue blurry,

Typically, those plugs don't just fall out, or even get taken out . if they are missing , you want to find out why they are missing. Usually they pop out if the block freezes, and usually the damage is further than just popping the freeze plugs out.

Be careful, I'll cap your azz, or block.

100 % Agree about improper winterization or not done at all. The other possibility is very bad corroded area the brass freeze plugs rest in. But that one will be a long shot here. I would check your exhaust manifolds out very carefully as well - water circ pump and oil cooler to

I'm not qualified to post a comment on this subject,,,,,,,,,,

Don't need no stinkin' freeze plugs. They just hold in hot water.

Alright, if it is a freeze (core) plug "popped out" and you have no clue what it is all I can say is ....run Forrest ....runnnnnnnn

When that happened to my Eliminator the valley was cracked in 8 places from the deck to the lifter galleys. Good luck.

Come on , Ratman , we caught you this time. Right ?????

Has anyone popped a freeze plug and not have a cracked block? Doesn't sound like the system works very well. ;)

Yes, my 351 Windsor in my Sea Ray 240 SRV popped the freeze plugs one winter. I couldn't pound in new ones so I just bought the rubber ones and ran it for 3 more years prior to selling it.

^^^^^ agree about the Fords - NO BS I have seen in person thru out many years about 60 Fords - 5.0 and the 5.8 that had popped some freeze plugs and all lived. The Ford casting are thicker than GM.

Fords seem to pop the FP's way before the block cracking.

The GM 4.3 L is the worst, it will crack in the lifter valley area and for 1996 & up year models, if you do not pull the intake manifold drain plug out to drain - it will crack on the bottom side of the intake manifold..

Freeze plug is a misnomer.

Correct. It's a core plug.

People named it freeze plug / frost plug because they tend to pop out when block freezes.

It's kind of like a Oven Roaster Chicken. When it 'pops' it is usually done.

And they damn sure don't prevent any damage to the block. I get the feeling that some people think they're there as a relief device.

I have seen several people get lucky with replacing the freeze plug. If they actually winterize the boat but some water stays in the side of the block with to much sand (mostly because they power onto the beach with motor running), then it will push out the freeze plug. I am always very skeptical, but even last spring one of guys down the street stopped by and asked why he found this strange plug in the bottom of his bilge. He went to the auto parts store and bought a rubber freeze plug and boated all season with it. Where we boat we have a lot of sandy beaches, so if the isn't your case and winterization wasn't performed, your block is most likely cracked.

that's because its a core plug... not a commonly mistaken "freeze plug" they put these in so they can get the sand out after the block has been cast!!!

i wonder how long it will take for a certian expert to say it popped out because the water was not cooling the metal in the block,lol.

Remember the guy in TX, said they popped out because the sun was to hot...................... ahhhh ok

yes, they keep the freeze in

now now... lets play nice :hitfan:

Post 25 is correct and FWIW Mercruiser calls and lists them as expansion plugs. Just saying, everyone calls them freeze plugs (on the side of block) especially for the marine side of things..

So the solution would be; remove engine>buy new freeze plugs>install new engine around new freeze plugs>install new engine with new freeze plugs in boat?

To save $, would you recommend Cobra to build the new motors? What if he threw in new freeze plugs?

It's called the plan for the worst, hope for the best. :wink: