Rear Cam Plug

[Mark H.]

What is the best sealant to use when installing the rear cam plug?

[Joe C.]

Re: Rear Cam Plug

GM Pipe Sealant With Teflon. Available in tubes, from your friendly, greedy GM dealership, @ approx $18.00. There are probably others, but not sure if they are "as good".

Joe

[Chuck S.]

Re: Rear Cam Plug

Uhmmm...I don't know, Joe, I must respectfully raise a question on this one.

On small blocks (and big blocks too, I suppose), the rear cam plug is a driven interference-fit cup plug like the block freeze plugs. If the cam plug were a threaded plug, the GM pipe sealant would seem to be the perfect product. But, the GM pipe sealant with teflon is a non-hardening paste with no adhesive properties or strength. The plug wouldn't need anything to hold it in the hole, but it seems there would be concern about pipe sealant ending up in the oil system.

Years ago, it seems like I have seen a semi-permanent Permatex sealant used for the cam plug. Has the thinking changed? Am I all wet here?

[Chuck S.]

P.S. Re Semi-permanent Permatex

Semi-permanent Permatex. I meant to say semi-hardening. If it's on the cam plug, it will be permanent for a long time. :-)

[Mark H.]

Re: P.S. Re Semi-permanent Permatex

Would ultra-copper be a good choice here?

[Chuck S.]

Re: P.S. Re Semi-permanent Permatex

Hey, Mark, don't ask me...I only have an idea that I know what not to use, and I'm not sure about that. Any input from engine rebuilders would be appreciated here. :-)

What is "ultra-copper"? Isn't that a Permatex product that is essentially a high temperature RTV that is hard and resilient like rubber when cured? If so, I believe that would be an excellent choice for the cam plug, but I would read the back of the tube real carefully and try to talk with people that actually build engines. Me, I only stay at the Holiday Inn sometimes when it comes to engine rebuilding. :-)

[Clem Z.]

permatex formagasket

part # 80019