HELP! S10 Block heater - Ha! Done!

[bennelson]

Hey everyone,

I am trying to install a frost plug block heater in my 4 cylinder 1995 Chevy S10.

I have the heater, but the instructions only point out that the frost plug is somewhere near the front driver side corner of the engine.

I don't even know exactly what the frost plug looks like, where it is, or what it's hiding under!

I tried doing a web search and counldn't find a single useful bit of information on where it is or what it looks like!

Can anyone here help?


-Ben


PS- it's up on jacks in the garage right now!



EDIT:
Here is what the truck typically looks like all winter:

[bikin' Ed]

I'm not real familiar w/ that engine, but freeze plugs in the block kind of look like the bottom of a tube of caulk. They are round and indented all except the outside edge. Don't worry about being careful with it because you will not be able to use it again anyway. I usually poke a hole in the center, and pry it out. Good luck. Oh yeah, there will be coolant still in there even after you drain it.

[bennelson]

Ha ah!

I located a thread on an S10 forum with a brief reference to the fact that the frost plug was near the block drain plug and should be accessed by removing the drivers wheel and big rubber flap.

I can now see the frost plug. I just need a two-foot long tool to access and remove it!


Here you can see the frost plug through the drivers wheel well, exactly half an inch past arms length away.

[bennelson]

I have a long spike that I was able to whack a hole into the frost plug, but there is no way to pull it out!

There is no room to get enough leverage to pry the thing!!

[Clev]

Originally Posted by bennelson

I have a long spike that I was able to whack a hole into the frost plug, but there is no way to pull it out!

There is no room to get enough leverage to pry the thing!!

Try pounding in one edge with a punch and hammer. It may rotate enough that you can get at it with pliers:

How to replace a car engine freeze plug

[theunchosen]

lol, this reminds me of trying to change my transmission oil when I first bought my car. Unfortunately it looked like it had ne'er been done before.

I ripped the threads out of the transmission. Fortunately I was camping out at my grandfather's shop. Unfortunately. . .I only had a few hours to get it back on and head home. Unfortunately I had to get the CV Joints out to get the tools in to put a new hole. . .

All that said, get another spike. . .maybe poke a new hole and pin it between the two spikes and pull?

[Clev]

Just found two other sites that say the same thing: the freeeze plug is thin and soft, so pound in one side, which should cause it to rotate and the other side to pop out enough to pull it out with pliers.

[bennelson]

Nope, it doesn't do that.

Instead, big holes just get punched right through it.

It doesn't rotate and presents nothing to poke out to grab onto.


I now have a useless truck and will not be able to do any of my plans tomorrow, nor drive to work on Monday.....

[bikin' Ed]

Ben, It doesnt "screw out" or rotate. It is a press fit. Once you have poked thru it you just need to pry it out.

[bennelson]

I was referring to rotating on the Y axis, or swivel in place.

It will not pry out.

I have spent the last 5 hours trying to pry it out.