I have a coolent leak from the front of the engine from what looks like a block off plate on the engine. It is beside the water pump. Someone said to me that this could be a freeze plug. It rusted and then a pin hole came on it as the car was idle for some time before I got it. This has been anoying me for years. I used some radiator filler on it but that didn't hold for long. It leaks every so often. I have used radweld in the coolent and that holds it for a while. I was wondering can these plates/freeze plugs be bought somewhere. Are they all a standard size. I really need to fix this. The engine is a 2.8L on an 82 Firebird.

Thanks.

 

You can buy them individually or in sets at your local parts store. They'll set you back less than a dollar each.

 

You're talking about something that looks like this, between the blue and yellow circles, half-assed painted red?
Apeiron is right, you *should* be able to get them easily, or else you can get a set from summit racing for $8. Use a big socket or something, and hammer it inwards, then use channel-locks or something, to pry it outwards. Then smear sealant on the new ones outer edge, and hammer it in with that socket. Be prepared to be soaked with coolant of course.

 

Get brass ones, not steel.

Buy a full set, ane replace as many as you can get to; if one is rusted out from behind, odds are there will be more before too much longer. There are 2 on the front of the block, 2 on the back covered over by the flywheel, and 2 on each side. All the same size.

 

Thanks guys for the information. I live in Ireland so I will have to find someone who sells internationally. I measure the plug on the side of the engine and it is 1.4in approximately. The car is a 2.8l 173. Does anyone know the sizes they come in or are they all the same, So I know what size to ask for.

Thanks.

 

yea, that's why I mentioned summit.

You can try rockauto.com

it should be a 1 1/2" plug.

 

Will a big socket work to get it out, I don't want to damage anything. There is not much space to work in. I see there are freeze plug removers/installers on ebay but they are expensive for something that will only be used once.

Thanks.

 

so... yes.