Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I have a friend who is having a leaking freeze plug (passenger side, rear) on his 56 Patrician. The plug was replaced a year or so ago and the slight leak has persisted from day one after the repair. Should the technician have used a sealer material around the plug, was the wrong plug selected and installed, ???? He's planning on having the plug replaced again at this point. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

None of the mechanics and engine rebuilders I keep in contact with ever use a sealer. I suspect the plug was either poorly installed, or the surfaces not clean, or both.

Though it's tempting to go with brass if you can find them, I'd recommend steel as the originals. Whether it's electrolysis or differences in coefficient of expansions, brass plugs seem to be much more problematic than steel.

FWIW, I always use sealant on my core plugs. Rebuilders don't use it because they are in a hurry.

The Packard uses an unusual shallow 1-49/64" soft plug. Most mechanics don't know this and substitute a 1-3/4" or who knows what. The wrong unit is most likely the source of the problem.

thnx, jack vines

Jack, what sealant or type do you recommend?

I always use black silicone on every freeze plug I install, and in every engine. I've also always used brass freeze plugs. I coat the back and the sides with a thin layer of silicone and never had one fail or corrode.

Forgive my ignorance; is this a freeze plug?

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Yes, AKA frost plug, expansion plug, butt plug....

So, I need to buy some freeze plugs for my 327, and I need to know how to remove them, and then how to install them. I'm sure the manual says "remove freeze plug" without much detail.

I use a hammer and a screwdriver to remove them, pop a hole in the side of one where the lip meets the base. Do this carefully and on the sides, NOT the top or bottom, as the chance of hitting the cylinder wall and making a hole in it is less likely. I say this because I don't know how much the word "careful" means to you. To install, I use a large socket that's big enough to just fit inside the freeze plug to drive it in so it's just under the outside of the outer lip of the freeze plug opening. If this isn't clear, let me know and I'll try to explain it further.

Carl,

Sometimes freeze plugs are also called core plugs (which they really are).