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MG MGA - Core plug removal

What is the best way to remove the core plugs, also best way to install and seal them ?
A Pearse

To remove a core plug, drill a hole in the center, screw in a coarse thread metal screwm a,d pull it out with a slide hammer. Installing a core plug, see here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/cooling/cool_105.htm
Barney Gaylord

If you use straight water and drive around long enough(or let them sit up here on the tundra), they seem to come out all by themselves.
Bill
Above freezing yesterday
Below zero tomorrow
Yippee
Bill Eastman

I have removed them by cutting a slot with a Dremel with a cutting wheel and then levering the plug out with a screwdriver. This works well in tight quarters where a slide hammer won't fit.
My Magnette has developed a crack across the center frost plug, which is now self-removing at high throttle! Not a good thing.

Cheers,
Rich
Rich McKIe

If the engine is in the car, the rear plug can be pushed out by inserting a thin screw driver between the last cylinder water jacket and the edge of the open plug above the distributor as follows:
If you remove the freeze or Welsh plug over the distributor, you can just reach across the back of the block inside the water jacket with a screwdriver and punch out the rear plug from the inside! I used an expandable copper plug made by Dorman products (bought from my local NAPA store) that installs with a wrench. I installed a new plug over the distributor, sealed both with Permatex Ultra Grey sealer and let harden over night. Clean the core sockets really well befor installing the plugs. The Dorman part number is DC-10, size is 1 5/8. It was not bad at all!If you remove the freeze or Welsh plug over the distributor, you can just reach across the back of the block inside the water jacket with a screwdriver and punch out the rear plug from the inside! I used an expandable copper plug made by Dorman products (bought from my local NAPA store) that installs with a wrench. I installed a new plug over the distributor, sealed both with Permatex Ultra Grey sealer and let harden over night. Clean the core sockets really well before installing the plugs. The Dorman part number is DC-10, size is 1 5/8. It was not bad at all!If you remove the freeze or Welsh plug over the distributor, you can just reach across the back of the block inside the water jacket with a screwdriver and punch out the rear plug from the inside! I used an expandable copper plug made by Dorman products (bought from my local NAPA store) that installs with a wrench. I installed a new plug over the distributor, sealed both with Permatex Ultra Grey sealer and let harden over night. Clean the core sockets really well before installing the plugs. The Dorman part number is DC-10, size is 1 5/8. It was not bad at all! Summer 2001... not leaked yet, 1500 miles later! Russ PS; it is still not leaking winter 2009.
Russ Carnes

Just being pedantic - it is actually a "welch" plug not a "welsh" plug. See note about it being devised by "Welch Bros".
http://holdenpaedia.oldholden.com/Welch_Plug
Mike
Mike Ellsmore (1)

Ah staand corrected!!
Good link too!
Russ
Russ Carnes

This thread was discussed between 22/01/2009 and 31/01/2009

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.