1992 F150 V8 5.0
freeze plug is still partially there. How do I remove it and put new one in. I was told just to knock the old one out but wanted better advise.

 

I always used a big punch and a hammer. Knock it in on one side, take a pair of pliers or channel locks and pull it out. Clean up the edge of the hole, put some gasket maker or yellow sealer on the edge of the new plug, and set it in the hole. Then take something as close to the size of the plug as possible, that fits on the inside, such as a large socket, and hammer it into place.

 

In the past when I replaced freeze plugs, I punched a hole in them and pried them out as I remember. If you can run the engine and get it warm first, drain the coolant, while keeping the new plugs in the freezer to shrink them, put some shellac on the edges and they would push in by hand a little. Then I drove them in the rest of the way with something the size of the inside of the plug. I never drove the old ones in and left them in the cooling water jackets like I've seen recommended.

 

What purpose does the "Shellac" have Roadie ? Seems like a build-up... Not sure how that chemical could make the task any easier? - Could it be you install raw and it helps seal when cured?

 

Actually worked in a dealership once where some of the mechanics did that. I shiver to think of it. I'm glad they never worked on my car! Never lost a drop of coolant. Now that's what you call "flat rating". Not in the best interest of the owner when they replace ALL of the freeze plugs and now you have that kind of obstruction in the cooling system.

 

I'm an old shade tree mechanic and I've always used shellac as a sealer on cooling system components such as hoses and freeze plugs. It seems to work ok and I have never switched. I also use it on intake gaskets and other gaskets. It's tacky and will help hold the gaskets in place when reinstalling intake manifolds and thermostat housings.

 

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Use Indian Head shellac or Copper-Coat spray gasket adhesive on coolant fittings.