So started working on 54
Found freeze plug behind oil fill tube missing
This car was parked in 66 originally from the dakotas I think
Anyway I'm guessing they parked it due to overheating as the block is packed with dirt
Probably pulled plug to clean block?
I've seen this before on vehicles from out west driving on dirt roads but don't have a good idea for cleaning block out
Any ideas?
2nd question how does oil fill tube come out of block
Trying to remove to get a straight shot to drive plug in
I'd like to use expandable plug but there's something just inside hole
Don't know how to post pics on this forum
If someone tells me how to do that I will
Thanks all
The oil filler tube is a press fit into the block. It might take some pulling to get it out.
But . . . If you are doing this with an assembled engine, I'd leave the filler tube in place until I'd worked over the cooling passages to keep from getting gunk into the oil pan. The usual way to clean the cooling passages is to remove all the core plugs along the side, run water into the block via the thermostat opening on the head, and while flushing use stiff wires, etc. to poke around inside the core plug openings into the cooling passages to free up the sludge. There will be a lot of it near the back of the block which can cause overheating problems.
The older engines used 1 5/8 inch expansion plugs for the side of the engine, Dorman 550-023. I believe they never changed that on the flathead 6 so that is likely what is on your '54. Assuming I am correct that '55 was the first year a V8 was available and you have a flathead 6.
Thanks again
Oh and sorry yes flathead 6
Didn't need to pull fill tube
And you were correct 1-5/8"
Good to hear you got it done.
I just did my frost plug above the oil dipstick. I cleaned out the gunk, which wasn't too bad for a 1951 engine. However, what I did not realise is that in flushing the block out 8 liters of water went down the dipstick hole. Needless to say I had contaminated oil and after flushing 10 liters of oil through it I am now ok.
Lesson: Check your oil level before and after doing this operation.