There's a plug in the temp sending port on my head in which the socket is totally stripped. I tried notching it and chiseling it out to no avail. I'm going to have to drill and attempt an easy-out or drill it all the way out and heli-coil.

My question is, are metal shavings in the water port of the head critical to avoid or does the head definately have to be removed?

I think I know the answer but hate to take so many steps backwards at this point.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I'm guessing it's the pipe-thread plug, between the cyl's (either the 1st two on the driver's side, or the last 2 on the pass side??

I'll also assume the 3/8" square socket is now a 3/8" round??

I removed one of these once, and it wasn't fun. What I wound up doing was drilling out the center of the plug to about 5/8" with a "Uni-bit" (one of those stepped "Christmas Tree" bits), then taking a fine toothed hacksaw blade and and sawing the "ring" that was left into quarters - just cutting the "ring" down into the edge of the threads. At this point a few whacks with a chisel collapsed the "ring" into itself and it came out of the threads in the head.

Afterwards (assuming head is still on engine), I'd run about 100 gallons ;) of water from the garden hose - "flush & fill" adapter to flush out any shavings.

Well that seems like a decent stradegy. I was thinking easy-out (which never works) or heli-coil which would probably leak.

Looks like my tomorrow afternoon agenda is booked.

Thanks

This may sound stupid but there is a tool out there on the market , I think its called something like a gator grip or gator gripper, had a big socket with a bunch of needle bearings in it , as you lower it onto the stripped nut or bolthead they bite onto what is left. Never seen one in action, but that is what they are advertised to do. Good luck!!!

Tedious, but very effective with no thread damage.

Thanks again!

Which one worked - drilling out or the "gator gripper"? Curious minds want to know, and I'd like to know how long it took you (if you used my suggestion) :p

Tedious, but very effective with no thread damage.

Thanks again!

Sorry John,

This is what I responded to your advice and method, It was extremely effective. I didn't even damage the original threads by quartering the 5/8" drilled plug. With a little more persuation than " a couple of whacks" it folded in and screwed right out.

Once I reread it again, I realized I didn't clarify which method I used.

(I will call your post very good advice)

As for how long it took, I'd say about 1 1/2 hours, but most of that was dusting off the metal shavings from the freshly painted frame :)

Thanks again.