Frost Plug under Motor mount-reattaching tricks?? HELP!!

[Mike Holmes]

Someone screwed up my winterizing and my frost plug fell out of one of my engines. It is directly under the motor mount of a 4.3 Mercruiser. 21006 280 Sundancer. Is there an easier way to put it back in without lifting the whole motor out??? Can my mechanic jack up the motor slightly and fiddle it in somehow. Any tricks or ideas anyone??? Please Help!
Embarrassed Capt.

 

[Ididntdoit]

"someone" huh - kinda like "i have a friend that......." well i would be looking for evidence of cracks too - you will be extremely lucky if thats the only damage - as for a "quick fix" a well stocked auto parts store is likely to have the rubber type of expansion plug that has a stud through the center and a washer on each side - you are able to easily install the plug and then tighten the stud thereby expanding the plug to a tight fit - i have seen them used in automotive applications with great success - you already know the right way to do the job - remove whatever you have to to gain clearence and properly install a new brass freeze plug.

 

[Bt Doctur]

pull the drive, raise the motor, remove the motor mount, reinstall plug, reset motor,test run with the hose to check for other cracks
THEN align motor and reinstall the drive.

 

[Summer Fun II]

If you're in fresh water, Maybe you could use one of these ??.

 

[Mike Holmes]

Thank you...I did and it worked.
Cheers!

 

[Mike Holmes]

I did that and got lucky ...no cracks and plug worked. thanks for the input.
Cheers

 

[Mike Holmes]

Yes...I did that and it worked...no cracks either. Very lucky...this time. thanks for your input.
Cheers!

 

[Tim Paxton]

Mike. I’m trying to install this plug under my motor mount but not enough clearance I have a 4.3 mercruiser year 87. Did you do something different to get under your mount

 

[Bt Doctur]

Someone screwed up my winterizing and my frost plug fell out of

someone and fell out ? Core plugs are not meant to fall out, they are pushed out by freezing water . Most times a cracked block goes with a core plug that was pushed out.
To install one the drive comes off, the mount comes off and you drive a new one in.
Best option is to seal the hole first, then refill the block and see if the oil level rises up . Yes= a cracked block in the middle of the lifter valley