Flathead pan rail plugs?

[39portlander]

Got the pan off this flathead and notice these four plugs. Need some education please. Scott

[frenchy dehoux]

Originally Posted by 39portlander

Got the pan off this flathead and notice these four plugs. Need some education please. Scott

Those pan rail plugs are the same as the Lincoln V12 engines Flathead.

Frenchy

[ken ct]

I would replace them all 4. Had mine rot through after75 yrs. You get anti-freeze or water in the oil pan, ken ct.

[David J]

They're 3/4 " expansion plugs . Ford pt # 74113-S . Usually lotsa nasteez above these . Probably available many places but I just gitzem from my local John Deere dealer . Ask for part # 30H9 & for $2.00 you can get 4 . Good quality also .

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

Those are accually core plugs, made so the factory cam remove the sand from the casting. Just take a small punch and drive a hole through them and pry them out. Any parts store should have 3/4 dish type block plugs. Napa can get them overnight.

[David J]

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Ford part # 74113-S is called " plug-water jacket " in a 1934 parts book .The core plug-expansion plug thing was well covered last time these little plugs came up & lets not mess with it again . That said the pics are what you get for less than a half buck each . Good quality & the same as what you will be taking out . . Like walt points out these are available elswhere also . If you go elswhere just tell the parts guy you want the type you hit in the center to expand . ADDING Walts " dish type " description is actually best so scratch the hammer part . Probably wouldn't have gone well with the parts folks anyway . OOOOOOOPs

[37 truck]

Mine came with wheat pennies

[frenchy dehoux]

Also I have seen over the years that some of these plugs as you remove them and have the block cleaned that there maybe no lip on some of the plugs you want to install this is due to the fact that the rust has eaten away the edge where the plug would be seated. I had to bore out the area where the plug would be fitted. Just some information to pass along. I am mostly talking about Lincoln V12 engines I am not sure if this is an issue with the Ford Flathead.
Frenchy

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

Originally Posted by frenchy dehoux

Also I have seen over the years that some of these plugs as you remove them and have the block cleaned that there maybe no lip on some of the plugs you want to install this is due to the fact that the rust has eaten away the edge where the plug would be seated. I had to bore out the area where the plug would be fitted. Just some information to pass along. I am mostly talking about Lincoln V12 engines I am not sure if this is an issue with the Ford Flathead.
Frenchy

I've seen the same thing Frenchy, as you say, just bore it out and install a cup type plug. Walt

[frenchy dehoux]

Originally Posted by Walt Dupont--Me.

I've seen the same thing Frenchy, as you say, just bore it out and install a cup type plug. Walt

Thanks Walt

On the Lincoln most of the time I rebuild them 100% of the time I know I will have to have it bored out to the next plug size because there is no lip for me to put in a new plug to seat flat. The early Lincoln up to 1941 use the same type and size plugs but from 1942 to 1948 V12 are using a plug size from a nickel to a quarter size. Very good subject

Thanks
Frenchy

[frenchy dehoux]

Here are a few pictures showing the decade plug hole lip. One of the picture is also showing a plug hole with no issues. The pictures are a bit blurry. The other pictures showing the size of the plug hole on the Lincoln V12 the size of a quarter are from 1942 to 1948.

Frenchy

[David J]

I have also seen blocks where the lip is not the best .Couldn't you tap the hole & just use an allen or whatever plug as another option ?

[frenchy dehoux]

Originally Posted by David J

I have also seen blocks where the lip is not the best .Couldn't you tap the hole & just use an allen or whatever plug as another option ?

I do not know if I would recommend doing the tap plug it would be easier for the machine shop to bore it out to the next available plug. The other issue you may have is if you had to remove the plug for what ever reason it maybe difficult to remove it if you had build up of rust on the back side on the tread. I am sure there are other pros reading this post perhaps their feedback would be great.

Frenchy

[39portlander]

Great info and reply's to the thread, thank's. Scott

[37slantback]

Thats what my old Dad told me to use.

Originally Posted by 37 truck

Mine came with wheat pennies

[Fe26]

Originally Posted by David J

I have also seen blocks where the lip is not the best .Couldn't you tap the hole & just use an allen or whatever plug as another option ?

I think this is a good suggestion. It would be a 'Do Once Do Right' option, and with a little Anti-Sieze on the threads, would be a reliable solution.

[Ziggster]

Hate to resurrect this old thread, but I was at the machinist a few weeks back and he mentioned I would need new expansion plugs which he removed prior to the block being cleaned. I contacted Hubbard Spring and they referred me to a distributor which I haven't yet contacted. Is it just me, or is it that some parts just seem hard to come by in a straight forward way?

[flatjack9]

Any automotive supply store will have them.
Dorman Products is one name that comes to mind.

[Ziggster]

I checked the Dorman site as well, but couldn't find anything that was 3/4" dia. I'll check locally today. I also couldn't find any of the John Deere plugs on the net. Only place I could find the "Ford" plugs was on eBay. If I cannot find any locally, I guess I'll order the ones off of eBay.

[outlaw]

Dorman 3/4" standard concave plug #550-007 for steel & # 560-007 for brass. 3/4" cup expansion plug # 555-012 for steel & # 565-012 for brass.