I'm doing a rebuild of a 1999 4.6L romeo. There are 10 expansion plugs, or freeze plugs, or frost plugs, or core plugs, or core seals, or WHATEVER the frickin' hell you call them, on the block ... two on each end and three on the sides. I was able to easily knock them all out except the one's in the middle on the sides. It seems like there isn't enough room behind them to knock an edge back to spin it. No matter what edge I hit it seems to just set it further in and I can tell it is hitting the back of the cylinder wall. I'm afraid of hitting it too hard and damaging the wall. How the heck do I get these out?

-Steve
Kissimmee, FL

 

I haven't removed one from an engine in a long while. But, I used to drive a screwdriver through them and pry them out. This may not work if it is solid against the block.

 

I take it the motor is on your stand and not in the truck. Try a coarse thread sheet metal screw at the edge then put a nut or socket (something that will clear the block) opposite the screw, then pry against it and you should be able to pop it out with a claw hammer. A slide hammer might work too.

 

Drill a hole and put a screw right in the middle of it, then use a slide hammer on the screw.

 

That did the trick. Thanks. It would appear that there is a bit of a ridge on the back side of these holes. Something that the others don't have. That explains why it felt like I was hitting something.

 

Glad I could help. Those things can be a real bugger sometimes. When I did my S-10 Blazer I had to call my old boss because I ran out of cuss words!