Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting What's a freeze plug?

my friend text msg'd me this

"i gotta spend around 350 dollars tomorrow to get the 'freeze plug' replaced on my car the part itself prolly isnt worth 50 dollars but they gotta remove my transmission to get to it"

I told him he is probably getting ripped off, but I'm not omniscient, so I'd thought I'd ask the knowledgeable fellow contour owners for some advice to give to him.

Thanks in advance,

oh btw, it's a 91 camaro

I don't even think the part costs that much. You can buy the rubber screw in ones cheaper than that. It's probably all labor. Mine on my El Camino with the 400 blew/rusted out. right behind the motor mount, not a fun job at all. The look like little round bowls. I think theyre if your coolant freezes the pop out before your head crack, but don't qoute me on that.

In reply to:

---

I think theyre if your coolant freezes the pop out before your head crack, but don't qoute me on that.

---

Your right, it has to do with the block more than the heads, though.
Shop around, sounds like an awful lot to have one replaced.
BTW there is usually more than one feeze plug on an engine, especially a V8.

A freeze plug is a round piece of flat metal (steel or bronze), about an inch or so in diameter, that has about 1/4" lip all the way around it. It is pressed into a hole in the side of the block/head that was originally there to remove the core sand. Its secondary purpose is to pop when your coolant starts to freeze in your block because there isn't enough antifreeze in the mix.

The cost should only be a buck or two. Getting the old one out and the new one in (with the engine/transmission still in the car) is another story ! If you can get to it, drill a hole through the center big enough for a slide hammer hook and pop it out. Press the new on in using a hammer and a block of wood.

What is your friend doing blowing his freeze plug out in Missouri?

I lived for a few years in the frozen wastelands of Northeast Montana and this is a common problem. Even on those old cars that are "so easy" to work on, replacing the freeze plug is a PITA.

$350? Yeah...depending on the car, that sounds about right.