Freeze Plugs Ford Winsor 351 Engine

Mrorak

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Messages
31
Ok so i had this boat winterized and the guy i had do it must have done a ****ty job. 2 freeze plugs popped out of the engine and they are right behind the engine mounts. I dont think i can get to them without pulling the engine. Any ideas or suggestions.
Thanks
 

HT32BSX115

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 8, 2005
Messages
10,083
Re: Freeze Plugs Ford Winsor 351 Engine

Howdy,

Those are not freeze plugs. They're there for the casting process.....They were never intended to protect you from a cracked block at all actually.......

If the person that "winterized" your engine did not remove the drain plugs and use a piece of wire or small screwdriver to poke in the holes and clear out the rust flakes and other debris, you may also have a cracked block.

If you're lucky, you may not have a cracked block though. If you cannot get in there to replace the soft plugs, either with new brass or rubber ones, then you'll probably have to pull the engine.

After you do replace the plugs, you should monitor for water in your oil. If the block cracked it may be "in the valley" under the intake manifold for a V-8.

Regards,


Rick
 

Mrorak

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Messages
31
Re: Freeze Plugs Ford Winsor 351 Engine

Are they the same size as freeze plugs or a special size for marine use. i have replaced them in a car never a boat?
 

gdombroski

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
134
Re: Freeze Plugs Ford Winsor 351 Engine

Had the same thing happen to both engines. No way to get to the two on each side dehind the mounts. My 2955 Avanti had to trailored in and engines pulled. Cost about $1100 couple years ago to replace $20 of freeze plugs. Good news though is that neither block cracked. Your boat insurance may cover it or the shop that did the winterizing. I remember reading somewhere that rubber ones should not be used. Can't remember where or why though.
Good luck
 

haulnazz15

Captain
Joined
Mar 9, 2009
Messages
3,720
Re: Freeze Plugs Ford Winsor 351 Engine

It would have been a butt-load cheaper to buy or rent an engine hoist for a day and lift the engines up, lol.
 

Lodgepole

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 24, 2003
Messages
272
Re: Freeze Plugs Ford Winsor 351 Engine

Go gack to the winterizer and demand he take care of the problem. This is what small claims courts are for. He needs to understand this.
 

gdombroski

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
134
Re: Freeze Plugs Ford Winsor 351 Engine

It would have been a butt-load cheaper to buy or rent an engine hoist for a day and lift the engines up, lol.
Except that I would have had to buy a trailer and something to tow it with.
 
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