How in the hell do you get them 5/16 plugs outta the heads, and intake. I'm talking about the little bugger I circled in the pic. Do they make tool?? Or do I have to fab up a tool??

 

Yep theres a tool for those stupid square plugs. Why did some idiot decide to make a plug like that I couldnt put my temp sending unit in my driver head because I stripped that stupid square out with the correct tool so I had to run extra wire to the pass side to have the sending unit in the back of the head.

 

Thanks Where can I get one to attempt to strip mine out

 

Any autoparts house that sells tools should have a set. Snap on also has them. After you get them out I'd replace them with the allen wrench style plug.

 

WRONG!!!!!

First who sells this tool?
Snap-On or Mac dealers only it seems.
This is a oil block/water block recessed plug with a special tool for inserting & removal.
Why is it so difficult to remove?
This recess block plug is rusted in & heat cycled in place by time you get to it.
How to remove?
BOTH TIMES
I had to get plug red/white cherry hot!
Several times, to expand the space & plug.
Then upon heat & cooling, it eventually comes out.
When I saw this plug on my first 3.4 swap, I nearly fainted & stopped the project.
My helper had a torch (BIG TANK TORCH, not a Bic Flic Lighter or hand held propane). Took two people to remove.
Second one I was prepared for the plug removal. Luckily the plumber I had visit that day, had a tank & torch assembly.
Two people, 1/2 hour later, plug out.
Both times the plug was rusted in place.
Both times, We used any tool possible that fit & twisted.
Last time was hugh screwdriver & Vise Grips.
What goes here?
The Temp Sensor for electric fan to cycle on & off.
Think this is bad?
Try a FORD CRATE ENGINE!
A Buddy had that project.
Same story!
Same happy ending.
YET this one plug was brand new recessed block plug & it fought the removal, too!

 

Now I don't exactly feel like taking tourch (that I don't have) to an aluminum intake, and 1" away from fuel lines. Gotta be another way!!!

 

soak it in some PB blaster for a little while...........then try the sources i mentioned in the other post for the correct tool


the filler plug for the rear end uses the same type of plug, i got mine loose today without a problem.........somebody might have said theres was a PITA to get out......yours may not be..........never know until you try

 

If this plug is in a water passage, it's in there solid.
Get the correct tool for removal & you'll be further ahead.

 

PB blaster???

Is that like wd40 or that creap solovent??

Hopefully I can find the right tool, and put a nice long cheater bar on it

 

kinda but its much more potent

PB blaster helped get everything loose i ever asked it to

i got it at wal mart



use a 1/2" breaker with an adapter down to the 5/16 square inverted socket

worst case scenario: you strip it and you need to drill it out and retap the hole

 

Pb blaster is awesome, I use it everytime I have to take off anything that is use on the head's or exhaust.

 

W-M can do. Can you describe can to me, will give it a try??

As for tool, just rem pops works at railroad, and emplyees can order tools from them, I belive snap-on. Gonna ask him to do that

 

Snapon.com, ppm410a, 10.20 plus shipping n taxes. Should be here in 3-5 days. :rockon:

 

PB Blaster = Liquid Gold. It will eat through any rust - Stuck exhaust bolts? Spray with PB, next morning, spray again, an hour later, they'll practically jump off at you.

Never seen that plug before, but the heat/cool DOES work. You use a concentrated heat source (torch works great - I used a little MAPP gas torch, myself). You basically heat the bolt up, then let it cool. It's thermal expansion - the expanding/contracting will break the rust loose. Then PB blast it (after it's cooled off) and use the proper tool - should be a piece of cake!

 

I dunno; Liquid Wrench has always worked as well as PB Blaster does for me. When I bought the PB Blaster I was a bit disappointed; I expected a big improvement over LW.

Glad you found the tool; if all else fails, you can cut off a shouldered bolt (so no threads are left on the bolt), and file the bolt down EVENLY into the correct size/depth. It just has to get filed into a perfect square. If you don't file it perfect, you'll strip out the hole, then you'll need to weld a bolt to it, like I had to do with that 2.8/2.8 swap I helped a friend with:

 

Just use a 5/16 piece of square stock from your hardware store. Usally in the steel section. Then just put an adjustable wrench on the other end and turn.

 

IF ya believe this

Just use a 5/16 piece of square stock from your hardware store. Usally in the steel section. Then
just put an adjustable wrench on the other end and turn.

Meet Harvey the Rabbit, Santa Clause, The Great Pumpkin

Been there.
I use that 5/16" keyway & twisted it like a pretzel
I felt like Superman!

Serious, use a tank/torch set up or the correct tool & the best ratchets ya can find with no extensions.

 

Hey KED85 I don't want to start a flame but it worked great for me. only cost a buck, I took out the plug that pluged the extra sensor water hole to put in my fan switch. If you need more leverage just put a cheater bar on the wrench DUH!

So take your
and shove it where the sun don't shine.

 

Hey KED85 I don't want to start a flame but it worked great for me. only cost a buck, I took out
the plug that pluged the extra sensor water hole to put in my fan switch.

I'D LOVE TO HAVE HAD BEEN SO LUCKY

I really felt like Superman when I twisted mine like a pretzel
No Flaming at ya at all!
Serious,
MINE, BOTH 3.4 EXAMPLES I DID, had to be heated cherry red/white hot then worked at it for about 1/2 hour each time using two people to remove that damn plug.

HOW YA GOT SO LUCKY I CAN'T ANSWER.
AND YOU GOT REALLY LUCKY

Every other person that had to do the same project reported same results/responses/extreme effort for that plug removal.

Honest how ya got so lucky using that chinsey keyway, is beyond me.
Serious, that 5/16" keyway was the "first tool" I saw at hardware store for "help"
I don't flame people (well very selectivly I admit, also!) but it wasn't "directed" at you at all!
Fun response, sure.
Honest.
Tell me someone knows Harvey the Rabbit!

 

It wasn't a keyway! Not sure what you mean by keyway. Square stock is high grade steel. Yes I had a wrench with a 1 foot cheater bar on it, took some grunting but never flexed.

Well you would think that I would have EVEN MORE problems because if you remember from past post the previous owner of my Camaro never changed the anti freeze. So I ended up lying on my back puting in new freeze plugs in the back of my block so if ANYBODY should have had trouble with rust it should have been me.

 

Hey it's me the idiot name caller of tools!
I assume it's called a keyway.
What I found was some section of hardware store that had those metric nuts/bolts, in the draws.
That where I found this piece of metal.
It fit in the plug hole.
You got lucky with your selection of stuff to use for the attack.
I was fortunate to have had people with the H/D torches to heat & help me remove those plugs. The right tool is gonna help anyone, yet finding that right tool for some could be a mission.
Glad ya not angry at me.

 

The mythical rabbit Jimmy Stewart spoke to all of the time, and I can't remember the name of the movie either.

RBob.

 

HURRAH
SOMEONE KNOWS THE MOVIE "HARVEY!"

If ya ever get a chance to watch it....
Most enjoyable flick
Make sure ya see this film from frame one.
Wouldn't be surprised if it was on TV/Cable/Sat. recently due to Easter Holiday.
A most enjoyable film.

 

Yes, yes, it is a good movie. I've never seen the very beginning, maybe need to rent it.

RBob.

 

From a classic movie buff & as a college student that studied the old classics.
Many old flicks need be seen from frame one.
"Citizen Kane" is one! ("Rosebud!")
These days, ya can read the current movie reviews and be knowledgable in the movie plot & story.
Recent movies, leave me no desire to drop the $10/head for the product they offer.
Ya can see current movies replayed on TV & the feeling is the same. BFD
Sorry to go off topic, just a passing comment.
Yeah "Harvey" is a true joy to see.