51 Champion Cleaning Engine Water Passages Question

[cbonner757]

Good afternoon. I cleaned out behind the 3 rearmost freeze plugs, but the oil filler tube is in the way
of the frontmost freeze plug, down low on the block. How does the filler tube come out, or is it
a very bad thing to remove it to get at the freeze plug?
For example, would it be impossible to realign the tube with the pipe plug hole if I do get the tube out?

The oil filler tube has a threaded pipe plug near the bottom. I unscrewed it and pulled on the tube, tried gently prying at the bottom of the tube with a screwdriver, then decided to ask questions before proceeding.

I'd appreciate the advice of someone who has done this on a Champion six 170 engine.

So far, it has been long and tedious, but not that hard. I am much obliged to Bob's Resource page, StudebakerInfo.org, which had an article that made it MUCH easier to get stubborn freeze plugs out. After trying several tools, the type of pry bar shown at the below link did the trick in five minutes.
Got quite a bit of sand, grit, and a little casting wire out so far, so should do much better.

http://www.studebaker-info.org/tech/Cooling/Dc9/dc9.html

Regards,
Clarence

[nvonada]

The tube is just press-fit into the block. The only GOOD way to get it out without damage is to take the oil pan off and tap it out from below with a suitable driver (e.g. a socket the right size). Try wiggling it. You might get lucky and be able to pull it out from the top. You can see how I did it here:

http://stude.vonadatech.com/EngineDipstickTube.htm

Just tap it back in the same orientation and depth you took it out. Getting the new freeze plug in with that tube in the way is very, very hard.

Nathan

[cbonner757]

Thanks, Nathan. With all the rest so clean, and that plug being "uphill" from the others, I'm gonna leave it in. I was able to clean along there from two sides (from the water pump, and from the next freeze plug hole) so I'll chance it. Thanks for the help.

Regards,
Clarence