Lost the Frost Plug when installing Block Heater

[bernhardschau]

I was installing a block heater in my son's Chev Pick-up with 350 engine. We lost the frost plug in the block and could not get it out. Could this damage the engine and what can be done to get it out?

 

[RavenTai]

if it gets in the right spot it may reduce the coolant flow in that bank and or create a local hot spot where water does not circulate well either would be bad

hopefully it was steel if so get a magnet on a flexible stick (available at sears or other good tool place) and fish it back up to the hole then grab it with pliers and pull it out (going to be a tight fit)

 

[labman]

I am very much afraid when water started circulating, the plug would be swept along until it came to a tight spot and block the flow. You have to get it out, and I doubt that it will be easy. Chances are it is in a hard place to work. Likely it didn't go very far. I think you need to somehow get a mirror, or even a shard of a broken one in where you can see where it is and try to fish it out with a piece of wire or even one of those grabber tools. I am glad I am advising, rather than having to do the job. I have a light bulb with wires soldered to the contacts and clamps to the battery. It is great for lighting up difficult areas. Good luck.

 

[Mike_dup1]

I agree, this could be a real big problem with the engine cooling and must be removed.

How you can do that is another thing. Normally one would drill a hole in the core plug, insert a HD screw and use that to help remove. I have a tool that has a magnet on the end and is flexible and extends. Have had it for years and should be available in some good tool stores.

Can you see it?

You just have to get it out and it may require tearing down the engine?

 

[bernhardschau]

I've tried all the things suggested and it's stuck good. I had to get it on the road so I installed the block heater. All seems good so far. Thanks for all the tips. Good tip from Mike for future jobs about drilling the hole and using a scew.

 

[Mike_dup1]

Could you get at it with a torch? Heat it up cherry red and grab it with some pliers and bend it etc.

 

[bernhardschau]

Thanks Mike. I don't think that would have worked, it fell down and to the left of the hole. I could barely touch it with my finger. It a V8, it seems like there is a lot of room back there.