coolant leaks

[chub chub]

hello all,
about 2.5 months ago i pulled the radiator out of my '52 special. for many reasons, i didn't get around to re-installing it 'til last weekend. before that i had no leaks just a clogged radiator. after installing it i took it for a drive. it stayed cool but when i stopped, i noticed it was leaking coolant from the 2 inches of hose between the water pump and the housing below the thermostat. today i got back to the car to replace it (it looked like it was 52 years old). when i popped the hood i found a new leak! this one was coming from my freeze plug! i replaced the old hose and took it for another drive. now everything is great except for the hairline crack in the interior of the freeze plug. i tried a temporary fix on the crack but the coolant trickle was fast enough to prevent anything from working. any ideas what caused all this? any suggestions on a temp fix until i can get new freeze plugs? thanks in advance.

 

[Tom Gallagher]

Hey Chub Chub;

You probably had the crack in the freese plug before and with the clogged rad you didn't get enough fluid circulation. Now with the Radiator fix You have much better flow throughthe system and the freeze plug defect reared it ugly head.
I wouldn't mess with any other Remedies.That stuff you put in the radiator( Stop Leak or Alumaseal) will stopp the leak but will eventually clog the Radiator You just had repaired. Freeze Plugs are easy enough to come by
Just do the Job Once and Do it Right. and you won't have the worry or aggrivation of it happening again , anytime soon.

Tom Gallagher

 

[chub chub]

thanks for your quick response tom.
i actually didn't try any kind of stop leak. i was trying to seal it from the outside with puttys with hardening agents, but as i said, the trickle of coolant was enough to push them out before they could set. i will definitely replace the freeze plug asap. i was just trying to get it home. my other question (which i will post)... is there a plug to drain the coolant from the engine on the '52 special, or is the radiator petcock the only place.
thanks again.