259 tear-down

[s2dwagon]

I am tearing down my 259 for a rebuild and want to remove any plugs etc., form the block before hot tanking. There is a pipe plug, about 1/2" in diameter at the rear of the block at about the 1:00 position that has a square indent for removal. It looks like someone in the past had tried to remove it and cracked it. It wasn't leaking but I would like to remove and replace it. How should I go about it, is there a special tool for removal? The square indent is larger than a 1/4" drive socked and smaller that a 3/8".

Also, the shop manual shows a plug in the rocker shaft that I would like to remove to clean out any sludge. Is that necessary? If so, what is the best way to r-n-r them?

Thanks,

Scott

[l.arend]

Remove any and all plugs for the clean out.Snapon ,S&K,MAC all mke sockets that are made to remove npt plugs .I have never had a problem removing any plug.

[rusty nut garage]

there are special square female sockets made to remove those, snapon mac, etc wouild have them. a 12 point socket will also work. With the correct socket the square plug shouldn't be a proble. The femal allen wrench pipe plugs can be a different story. Try and impact driver or impact wrench. The hammer affect of the impact will help.
Buy a small parts kit for the rocker arms, they come with new welch plugs and cotter keys. The shaft will be full of sludge, then take a shotgun brush with a extension rod and brush it out. In fact invest in a universal gun cleaning kit then buy the brushs needed according to size. After you have the block hot tanked and machin work done take the block to the car wash or home and high pressure all oil passages etc, use alot of pressure hot water and compressed air, this is where alot of rebuilders get into trouble. They expect the maching shop to return a clean block it just isn't so!!
Russ

quote:Originally posted by s2dwagon

I am tearing down my 259 for a rebuild and want to remove any plugs etc., form the block before hot tanking. There is a pipe plug, about 1/2" in diameter at the rear of the block at about the 1:00 position that has a square indent for removal. It looks like someone in the past had tried to remove it and cracked it. It wasn't leaking but I would like to remove and replace it. How should I go about it, is there a special tool for removal? The square indent is larger than a 1/4" drive socked and smaller that a 3/8".

Also, the shop manual shows a plug in the rocker shaft that I would like to remove to clean out any sludge. Is that necessary? If so, what is the best way to r-n-r them?

Thanks,

Scott

Russ Shop Foreman "Rusty Nut Garage"
53 2R6 289 5SpdOD (driver)
57 SH (project)
60 Lark VIII 2dr sd (driver)

[rusty nut garage]

I forgot your question on removing the rocker arm plugs, drill a small hole in them then screw in a sheetmetal screw and pry them out. Make sure you follow the shop manual on reassembly of the rocker arm shafts so that you get the oil passages line up correctly.
Russ

quote:Originally posted by s2dwagon

I am tearing down my 259 for a rebuild and want to remove any plugs etc., form the block before hot tanking. There is a pipe plug, about 1/2" in diameter at the rear of the block at about the 1:00 position that has a square indent for removal. It looks like someone in the past had tried to remove it and cracked it. It wasn't leaking but I would like to remove and replace it. How should I go about it, is there a special tool for removal? The square indent is larger than a 1/4" drive socked and smaller that a 3/8".

Also, the shop manual shows a plug in the rocker shaft that I would like to remove to clean out any sludge. Is that necessary? If so, what is the best way to r-n-r them?

Thanks,

Scott

Russ Shop Foreman "Rusty Nut Garage"
53 2R6 289 5SpdOD (driver)
57 SH (project)
60 Lark VIII 2dr sd (driver)