Removing engine block coolant core plugs

[steve briance]

How are people getting their core plugs out? I've just spent the best part of an hour removing two from a spare block as practise. Bashing, drilling, chiselling, heating, whacking, swearing etc etc.

Before I start on the block I am building up, are there any top tips to share or is just a case of smash whack and bend the little sods out? I notice there is a lip in the block they push up to so it is no go for driving them round in their hole with a pin punch.

[AndyP]

This is how I get them out, chain drill a series of holes from the centre down to the edge, then link them together ( I use a die grinder ) so you can get a pry bar in. Add some heat to the block, then lever them out

[steve briance]

Nice one. I had found drilling and cold chiselling worked best out of a bad bunch - what a pain in the ar£e job it is and I have the luxury of doing it on the bench and not in an engine bay! I have to say though - the plugs seem rustler on the outside than the inside which is odd and im wondering if it's worth it now!

[AndyP]

the plugs seem rustler on the outside than the inside which is odd and im wondering if it's worth it now!

I've found that too! If it's been run on the correct coolant, they shouldn't be rusty, so that's a good sign.

[steve briance]

I shall carry on and do them so I can see shiny core plugs but as you say - it looks like the correct coolant has been used so it is a cosmetic job rather than necessary job.

[s2driveruk]

So are these a ****** to get out then? I am planning to drive mine out and on a couple of youtube clips they seemed reasonable easy…this is sounding not the case

am i right thinking they are 38mm. Any benefit in going stainless steel or brass…or just usual mild steel.

[SteveH]

They aren't hard to get out by whatever method you choose. Just don't damage the block in the process as the new ones will leak whatever they are made from.

[Rikki Kitto]

Worth adding the one with a water feed for the turbo while you're at it

[newsh]

So are these a ****** to get out then? I am planning to drive mine out and on a couple of youtube clips they seemed reasonable easy…this is sounding not the case

am i right thinking they are 38mm. Any benefit in going stainless steel or brass…or just usual mild steel.

I bought a few mild steel and stainless ones when I had to replace some on my coupe. Stainless is much harder than mild and after trying to fit one without success I was worried if I did manage to brute force it in it either wouldn’t seal properly or it might damage the head/block so I went for the mild ones which went in fairly easily.

[s2driveruk]

Worth adding the one with a water feed for the turbo while you're at it

That one is the only one that fills me with a bit of dread

[s2driveruk]

I bought a few mild steel and stainless ones when I had to replace some on my coupe. Stainless is much harder than mild and after trying to fit one without success I was worried if I did manage to brute force it in it either wouldn’t seal properly or it might damage the head/block so I went for the mild ones which went in fairly easily.

Agreed, that was my thinking. Brass looked like a decent option but maybe new mild steel is the right path even if the aesthetic isn't quite as good!

[K Simmonds]

I'd go with MS, easy to install and much the same thermal property's as cast iron, expands and contracts at very close to the same rate.

[s2driveruk]

Thanks…i guess that seals that!

[K Simmonds]

Quite literally.

Though do take your time removing the old ones, as Steve very rightly points out damaging the block is pretty much irreversible.

[s2driveruk]

I do have a spare block but it’s not the route I want to go and actually can’t remember what it even is, aby I think.