I want to plug the water channels in the rotor housings that are used to pre-heat the intake manifold.
This allows me to swap intake systems without draining coolant every time.

Has anyone done this before ?
What did you use ? Plugs ? JB Weld ? ....

Any advise welcome !!

 

tapping and screwing in allen head plugs with some thread sealant seems the best solution too me?

 

20mm freeze plugs.

 

Tried some but can't get them in...
Engine is in a car so I don't want to enlarge the passage in the rotor housing.

I don't have the tools to tap a hole this big.

 

Would it help if I put the freeze plugs in the freezer first ? Is that why they are cold freeze plugs ?

 

not cold, "called".

 

This could be a good idea since the cold temp will shrink the metal a couple thousenths. They're designed to be a tight fit so they seal.

 

They are called "freeze plugs" because they are supposed to pop-out when the coolant freezes, thus saving the engine block to crack/split/...
Putting them in the freezer might help, but I'm not very convinced.

 

I've done it engine in the car. Its a little tricky to get it lined up right and started straight on. I use a deepwell socket that just fits inside the plug, that helps to hold it steady and aligned.

 

Solid round stock? You could get piece 20 mm and hone off a little on one end so it fits in the hole then hammer it a little and cut off the excess. I did something similar to plug the oil hole in back.

 

What was the purpose for the coolant passages in the intake mani anyhow?

 

Emissions, and the stock carb was designed for it. Apearantly, the stock carb may not run as well with the coolant passages blocked.

Heat the rotor housings a little and freeze the plugs. They should go in a little easier.

 

oh man, the freeze plug thing is the oldest myth evar.

if the coolant freezes in the block, the block IS going to crack,

a couple of small plugs poping out wont do ****.

the reason they are there is to release the sand or whatever when the block is cast.