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Somebody please help me?

Tiny
MATTS94SC
  • MEMBER
  • FORD THUNDERBIRD
I have a 94 thunderbird I just put a 84 302 that I built in it. I used the factory (downflow) supercoupe radiator (small thing). Changed everything to v-belt. Got everything ready started it let it run for about 5 minutes and it popped a freeze plug on the front driver side. So I put in a x-pansion plug and tried again. Ran for about 10 minutes, boom! The rear driver side popped out. So another x-pansion and aother plug the middle one so I am now confused. I had everything fluxed before assembly all good. Bored the block.40 over all good no cracks. So whats causing my plugs to pop? Think it could be the radiator? PLEASE HELP ME!
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Saturday, December 23rd, 2006 AT 12:38 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
INDYUKE
  • MECHANIC
  • 416 POSTS
There could be a possibility that your cooling system pressure is rising above maximum.
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Saturday, December 23rd, 2006 AT 12:56 AM
Tiny
MATTS94SC
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Well could it be cooling or maybe my block cracked? Is it possible for the coolant to build that much pressure?
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Saturday, December 23rd, 2006 AT 1:01 AM
Tiny
INDYUKE
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Your block might be cracked. I was thinking maybe the radiator cap wasn't working correctly and releasing pressure should the pressure rise. I've heard of freeze plugs coming out, though that was in addition to hoses blowing and seals rupturing as well. Is the coolant temp fine?
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Saturday, December 23rd, 2006 AT 5:43 PM
Tiny
MATTS94SC
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  • 4 POSTS
No it wont even run long enough to get over 120deg. Then one pops out.
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Saturday, December 23rd, 2006 AT 5:58 PM
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
My guess or starting point would be to compression test all the cylinders. It sounds like the cooling system is being pressurized possibly from head gasket or crack as previously mentioned. I've seen weak radiators blow open from a bad headgasket, but yours is new.

OF course then again, I am only a service writer :)
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Saturday, December 23rd, 2006 AT 7:55 PM
Tiny
MATTS94SC
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Well, I took the heads off and the gaskets where still in good shape the bottom head bolts werent tourqed all that good. But I figured that would cause more other problems.
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Saturday, December 23rd, 2006 AT 9:16 PM
Tiny
INDYUKE
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This is a massive stab in the dark, but how tight are the freeze plugs in there? Could there be a possibility that with the slight rise in temp, the engine block expands thus loosening the freeze plugs (that are under at least some pressure) enough to pop out?
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Wednesday, December 27th, 2006 AT 8:57 PM
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
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Seems like auto repair has a lot of theory huh? If the head bolts weren't torqued right (and possibly leaking)the cooling system may have been getting pressurized.
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Thursday, December 28th, 2006 AT 5:17 PM
Tiny
INDYUKE
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Service Writer has a good point
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Thursday, December 28th, 2006 AT 8:00 PM

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