If you have to change the freeze plug behind the fly wheel would you pull the engine or drop the tranny??
(I've got limited tools to work with and am leaning towards dropping the tranny unless someone can tell me why that's a bad idea...)

That's the most important question I've got right now if you don't want to read the book that follows....

(Yes I am a dumb@$$ that forgot to check the antifreeze and with 40 below temps over the winter it didn't go so good)

Okay so I've been trying to get my 91 camaro RS 3.1 back on the road for about a year now. (today I finally got it started for a moment by hot wiring the ignition wire at the starter solenoid--but obviously can't leave it run for long without that freeze plug.) Started out running bad on the tail end of a 3 hour trip well over a year ago. I've had this car for years at this point so I'm assuming it's one of the normal issues (needs coil, button ect) but that turns out not to be the case... since that faithful day of it just running badly it can't be run at all (although I am starting to think repeated attempted starts damaged the ignition wire since today it has started on a hotwire). I have changed: Coil, button, cap, ignition module, plugs, wires, distributor, ERG, starter, fuel injectors, fuel filter, ripped apart dash to check on aftermarket security that had been half removed when I bought the car but didn't seem to change a darn thing. I have also hacked a hole in my trunk to check out the fuel pump only to find out that the gas gauge went bad while it was sitting and it was out of gas, fuel pump seems fine. I have bypassed the Vatts system before in other vehicles equipped with it and it doesn't seem to be a problem here (the security light goes out like it is supposed to) There are some wires I noticed today on top the tranny that need hooked back up.... (if anyone has any idea what those are for I'd love to know) Seems like it's still running weird, but can't really know till I take her for a drive but can't do that til I fix that darn freeze plug....
I am so sick of working on this car! But I LOVE IT as my daily driver!
Right now I am stuck driving a 99 Cavalier that I LITERALLY pulled out of a field 5 years ago cause the guy who owned it was convinced it would never move again (and by the way it is a complete piece of $#!+ but the most reliable piece I think I've ever owned). I really need my camaro back. The Crapalier is killing me!!

Any help/advice/things to check are more than welcome!

 

I would pull the transmission if you're sure that where the leak is coming from. I hope it's not a crack and just the freeze plug.

I would check the oil for signs of water first as before any other work you do. You may need to replace the block or engine. After you have that fixed move on to your other problems.

Good luck.

 

O that's definately where the leak is... I took off the fly wheel cover and can see the water pouring out near the top of the drivers side. Been praying it's the freeze plug... how likely is it that the block would have cracked and the freeze plugs stayed in place?

 

Freeze plugs are really core plugs. I'll try to explain. To cast a block with coolant/ water passages inside it. A sand core is used. This core is held in place in the sand mold where the freeze plugs are, so a hole is cast in the block as well as the water jacket. The sand is broke into small pieces and removed via these holes. The holes are part of the cast process.

They are NOT there to provide protection against freezing. They can relieve pressure from expanding ice so long as it's more of a slush. Straight plain water freezing and a crack is all most a sure thing.

I believe they are referred to as "freeze plugs" because they can and have worked as such.

Hope this helps. And hope your freeze plugs/core plugs worked like freeze plugs... should? Like no cracks please.

 

These plug also rot or rust out. Could be that's the cause.You should replace both of them when you do this.

 

I've also been delaying replacing my leaking freeze plug behind my V6 3.1L. Until recently I wanted to drop the transmission and replace it from underneath. After researching it a bit I found that I have to get the car on jacks at least 24" in order to drop the transmission and move it from the area I need to work on. Then after replacement, chances are another freeze plug will go and I'll have to do it again. Now, I'm thinking of pulling the engine and replacing all of the freeze plugs at once. This way I won't have to do it twice or more. What did you finally do and did it resolve your problem?

 

If it's not broke don't fix it. So I assume it is a freeze plug. Replace both with transmission out . There is no need to make any harder. Your car may be ready to spring a leak somewhere down the line. But it is holding fine for now.Fix the offences as they fall. You're at that point with this car where all is sure to fail at sometime. I cannot know where and when.

Fix it and keep it. Or fix it and sell.

Everything ages and wears out. Something's sooner than others.

I don't know how much your car is worth. It may be time to sell. Like to the scrap yard.

It's your call.

There are many cars that can fit your needs