My brother asked me what is behind what looks like a reversed freeze plug on the intake side of his engine just below the 2 center intake ports. (on the center housing of course) He said his exhaust gasket was burned through at this point but I did not think there was any exhaust behind it. Really never took the disk out before to check. Anyway What is behind it and if his fell out and is loose what is the right way to put it back in.

Thanks.

 

I may have to move this to a different spot to find out an answer... If anyone else is interested in the answer follow the thread...

 

Coolant passage I belive. If it fell out because its loose you need a new one. If it fell out (weird anyways!) and is tight, simple press/hammer it it back in tight.
Mayeb he was talking about the EGR passage a bit lower, beside the exhaust port? Because that plug doesnt' even touch the exhaust gasket!! LOL

 

Hi, I'm the brother with the problem. This disk is definitely behind the exhaust gasket, and the back side of the disk is covered in soot from the exhaust. When I removed the gasket it was perfected intact around the exhaust ports and only burnt through at the spot where the disk is. I hammered it back in yesterday and so far the car is running good. Are you sure about this being a coolant passage? It is not possible on my engine.

 

//Sorry double post

 

That plug is covering an EGR passage. When I got my second motor installed, I noticed it was kinda loud. After a bit of investigation, I found that plug had fallen out and was wedged between the exhaust manifold the the engine housing. Slipped it back into place and peened it a bit and now it's fine. I'm not sure why your exhaust gasket would have been involved, though. On my car the plug was in the space between the intake and exhaust and no where near any gasket.

 

Yeah, thats what confuses me.. makes me think you are takling about something else...

 

In the pic, it's the plug in the center iron right below the primary intake ports, right? The one that's about halfway painted orange? If so, that's the one I'm talking about.

 

Unless you have some aftermarket or homemade gasket, it should be anywhere near it, strange.

 

Right. The stock gasket dips down to (more or less) match the flange between the upper exhaust studs. Must be some kind of non-OEM gasket if it was disturbed by blowby from that plug.

 

Is it just me, or is your intake painted as well?

 

I have not seen his gasket but my replacement gasket does not cover that disk. Yea, a little overspray did get into those ports while painting :P but nothing I can't disolve before running it. Just don't have a car for the engine anymore...

 

It is a non-oem gasket and it only partially covers the hole, but it is covered enough to catch the heat. There was soot covering the actuators from the exhaust coming out of that hole.

 

So are you still wondering what it is???

If so it was answered it is an EGR passage way, that goes up to the EGR valve that is on the top side of the center iron houseing.


And one of the only ways I can think to fix it right would be to take it to a engine machine shop. And have them put a new plug back in.

Or I'm sure you could get a cast iron plug cut out from any steel shop around you, and then have it welded into the hole. This way would probably be cheaper, but I'm not sure what the point of that plug is. So I don't know if I would do that one.

 

I would strongly advise against welding it closed. However, if it still fits pretty snug, peening the center should force the edges of the disk into the hole tightly enough to keep it from coming loose for the life of the engine. Otherwise, get a new plug.