Bill,
Are you sure you don't mean the block, and not the head? I've seen this exact
same thing happen to a newly rebuit Spitfire at a local car show last Fall,
but the plug hadn't popped altogether. I don't know why it happens or what to
do about it, but I thought I'd mention that I've seen it before. Strange,
huh?
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Miller
To: Triumphs ; Spitfires
Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2002 9:00 AM
Subject: freeze plug...
Ok listers, help me out here....
I don't understand what just happened.
66 Spitfire MK2 1147
My first drive on the newly rebuilt head.
Machine shop welded up several cracks, flattened it, and ceramic coated it.
This was a very good machine shop that does work for even some of the race
teams here. I trust their reputation.
I put an hour or so in the garage of run time prior to driving it (it has
been non stop raining in Indiana for a month) Today, no rain, so I drove
to
the gas station and around town for about an hour.
Heading home, I was pushing it a little hard - 4500rpm, about 75mph - all
the sudden - *poof* white smoke pouring out back. Then out the shifter
boot. Definitely just antifreeze. Since I was very close, I drove it
home.
When I got back lifted the bonnet, I slow topped off the radiator (mostly
empty) and noticed steam and antifreeze pour out the rear of the head. I
blew out a freeze plug. The big one closest to the firewall. How do you
blow out a freeze plug?
This thing is not rusty, it looks like new (except for the paint on the
outside) Would a machine shop replace freeze plugs when working on a head?
I am *hoping* they did and possibly put one in that was slightly too small.
It is stamped on the back 1-47/64
What do I do? Put in a new freeze plug and hope for the best? Replace all
the freeze plugs? Pull the head and have it checked again? I was planning
on driving this to the Mid-Ohio event in June, but am now having serious
thoughts about going. It would be a 250+ mile drive and 5-6 hours.
What in the world could cause this to happen?
Thanks,
A frustrated Bill in Indiana
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