welch plugs

[Cooke]

I just removed some of the welch or freeze plugs from my 1930 v8 Cadillac to clean out the block. They seem to be 1 and 7/8ths inch and NAPA does not have them, they have to be the concave disc type not the cup type, any idea where I might get these??

[Classic]

It looks like NAPA has them in steel, but not brass:

Expansion Plug, 1.875"; Disc Type; Steel
Part Number: SEP 3811020
Product Line: Sealed Power Engine Parts
IMPORTANT INFO: Steel Disc Type Freeze Plug,1 7/8"

Hope this helps.

[Classic]

Looks like http://www.mahleclevite.com/ has them in brass, their part number 219-6020.  Go to their website to find your closest distributor.

As an aside, the Hubbard Spring Company in Oxford, MI is the original patent holder and manufacturer of the Welch Expansion Plug since 1913.  They are still in business and still make welch plugs, but apparently do not sell retail.

[Jay Friedman]

My '49 engine uses six welch/freeze plugs 1 31/64" inch in diameter.  Being an odd size I could only find 5 following an engine rebuild so, as an alternative, in the 6th hole I substituted a hard rubber welch/freeze plug 1½ inches in diameter.  This type is fastened in place by a nut and bolt in the middle of the plug which expands the rubber against the perimeter of the hole in the block.  I thought I'd leave it in place temporarily until I could find a steel plug. 

To install it, I first shaved it slightly on a grinding wheel to attempt to reduce the diameter by 1/64 inch.  I then tapped it in with a hammer and tightened the nut.  It has been in place for 2 years without leaking or popping out.  The irony is that a few months later I was able to buy several new 1 31/64" inch steel plugs, but due to the rubber plug remaining in place without causing any problems I haven't used any.

[Brad Ipsen CLC #737]

For the OHV 50 vintage engine that I recently rebuilt I bought brass plugs.  Dorman part number 560-021.  I think I ordered them from Carquest and had to buy a pack of 10.

[mgbeda]

I'm not saying that you should use the "temporary" rubber freeze plugs, but...  I started driving old Bessie in 1988, and put more than 100,000 miles on her over the next 20 years, before I decided to tear her down to restore her.  Now that I've taken her engine out I see that it has two rubber freeze plugs that were put in before I started driving her in '88.  I guess they'll last a while.

-mB