I kept this gem of a message from the MG List. It should directly apply to
Vance's weeping motor issues and anyone else having similar troubles...
although things may be a little different with the motor installed already.
Lawrie is one of the few authorities on British car's (mostly MGs) whose
opinion I hold in the highest esteem.
Forwarded message below...
Kai
----- Original Message -----
From: "British Sportscar Center" <Lawrie@britcars.com>
To: "Bob Howard" <mgbob@juno.com>
Cc: <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 15:08 PM
Subject: Re: update: leaky mgb & coolant plug
> Bob,
>
> I hope you live somewhere where it nevver gets really, really cold!
> One of the purposes of freeze plugs (as I'm sure you know) is to
> be the "weakest link" in the event of the coolant in the block
> freezing. If the plugs are epoxied in place, they may be reluctant
> to pop out under pressure from the expanded, frozen coolant,
> resulting in the problem they were supposed to prevent - a crack
> somewhere in the block.
>
> In my shop, we clean the holes where the plugs go, scrape the
> 90-degree angle as smooth as possible with the sharp edge of a
> straight-blade screwdriver, apply a small smear of clear silicone
> sealer into the angle, then install the plugs and flatten them by
> holding one ball-pein hammer on the plug and hitting it with
> another hammer. (This latter step to avoid missing the plug and
> hitting the block, which makes future installations more difficult
> once the hole is no longer round!). The silicone sealer fills
> the tiny crevices but does not form a permanent bond. Careful
> flattening of the plug, rather than smashing a great big dent in
> the middle, spreads the sideways load to make the plug hold
> itself into place.
>
> Lawrie
> British Sportscar Center
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bob Howard" <mgbob@juno.com>
> To: <dhh2c@cms.mail.virginia.edu>
> Cc: <mgs@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 9:56 AM
> Subject: Re: update: leaky mgb & coolant plug
>
> > Dan,
> > In the perfect world, welsh (freeze) plugs in the block are
> > sealed with a tiny bit of permatex and punched into place
> > forever. In the less perfect world in which we live, we find
> > the seats for the plugs are often eroded, the plugs not quite
> > round, and any other number of possibilities for trouble.
> > One of the leading MG shops around here scrubs the holes
> > with brake cleaner, then dries with compressed air, then
> > mixes a dab of five-minute epoxy, smears it around the seat,
> > then punches in the plug. It seemed drastic to me, but the
> > wrench explains that if you ever have to remove the plug
> > again, the epoxy will chip out (it doesn't get a great bond,
> > apparently) and that the stuff holds quite well until it's
> > necessary to remove it.
> > Bob
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