I'm trying to find the correct freeze plugs to use on my 67 427/435 engine rebuild. I went to Long Island Corvette Supply but their 1 3/4 inch steel plugs are only 1/4 inch deep. Originals are more like 1/2 inch deep. I want to find steel plugs with nothing embossed on them as were the originals. Does anyone know where I can get them?
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Re: Correct 1967 427 freeze plugs?
Don, it's your choice, but I see no advantage to using zinc plated steel freeze plugs. Granted, it's just like the General did it, but the General used zinc plated steel because it was cheap. I have replaced steel small block freeze plugs in as little as 2-3 years, and it was no fun. This was a 400 cid Chevy, which was prone to overheating, so I did a lot of flushing and cleaning trying to keep it cool. Maybe all that cooling system maintenance accelerated the failure.
Once you paint them orange, they all look the same. I believe Mike McCagh gave a source for brass freeze plugs with no embossed logos (or maybe he said they were available); check the archives. Unless you are concerned about some demonically anal midyear judge getting under there and checking them with a magnet, I would do myself a favor. -
Re: Correct 1967 427 freeze plugs?
Chuck------
That's one of the nice things about aluminum big blocks------they have machined, hard-anodized aluminum block plugs with o-ring seals. If they should leak, you just back them out with a hex head wrench and replace the o-ring.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Correct 1967 427 freeze plugs?
Cool...Now that's what I call a machine.
I suppose the design change to O-rings had to do with the high expansion rate of aluminum? If you were to overheat the engine, I suppose conventional freeze plugs would start to leak and fall out?Comment
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