Coolant plug

[HorseHauler]

I hope this is appropriate to be here.
I have a '97 which I am doing a vegetable oil conversion on. Before I can put everything back together (including air intake and turbo) I need to get the coolant plug that is below the upper radiator hose out and put in a special thermostat for use with the new system. It has a sqare recessed place in the plug. A 1/4 drive is too small, a 3/8 is too big. I've ground down two 3/8 drives to fit but broken both. Where can I find this?

 

[JOAT]

I think I used a piece of 5/16" key stock from the hardware store and turned it with a crescent wrench. Hit it a few times with a hammer to jar it loose. they tend to be really tight. Had one like that in a 6.2 diesel that I ended up drilling out

Good luck!

 

[HorseHauler]

right now I'm grinding down a piece of 1/2" square steel. Hopefully it will work, or I'll try the key stock.

BTW, I think your avatar is the best ever!

 

[dpantazis]

wobble?

it's 5/16 sq. sears has that socket listed. my bigger sears had to order it in....
so, i used a 3/8" wobble socket adapter to wedge in there to get it out. the wobble is the one that the square is barrel shaped.

at worst, i would take a cheap 3"long 3/8" extension and grind the square down on each side to get it out.

joat's idea of key stock is great too. look in the tray type fastener hardware section too!

dennis

 

[JOAT]

BTW, I think your avatar is the best ever!

I don't know, Dennis has a pretty darn funny one


None of the Sears stores, Napa, etc, seem to stock the square drive bits. Annoying cause alot of older engines have them instead of the hex ones....