Oil Cooler Block Off Issue

[se7en]

Originally Posted by hammdo

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106511

There is a tap size mentioned in the TSB...

G280X125N3 M28X1.25

E-taps.com

-Don

Yes that’s the tap originally used and those threads were boogered up.

To anyone getting ready to do this here is my advice after such a simple fix has costed me over $300 and many many headaches!!

Save your old stuff
Buy an aluminum plug that’s not Brass......not that one so many are installing.
Use a lot of thread tape or gasket sealant and not pipe dope.
Be certain you can reach it at the correct angle it needs. Looks can be deceiving.
Lastly,
Let the dealership do it lol

[go_go_gadget88]

Originally Posted by se7en

There seems to be a stop tab in the back of the hole. Does anyone have a picture of this or diagram of the coolant flow that will show this tab? Mine is no longer there (shop decided to cut it out) and I think it's being blocked off.

I think that little "tab" sticking out is actually a casting defect that caused this whole issue for people in the first place. I did this mod as mine was leaking from this hole with factory fitting. My fitting was only ran in until it hit that tab, which was only like 1/3 of the threads going into block. I think this tab caused the factory fittings to hit a false torque number early, before it was actually in all the way. I removed mine easy, being hardly threaded in. When I tried to run the new brass plug in, it hit that tab after only being threaded in a couple turns. Ended up using a little faith that my threads were lined up fine, and just cranked the hell out of the plug.

It worked and my plug basically bent that tab out of the way. I was able to run it down all the way after this until the flat underside if the plug was down all the way against the block. Removed it once to make sure threads were still ok. Then wrapped plug with pipe tape and ran it home. No leaks so far!

[frankwjr]

Originally Posted by go_go_gadget88

I think that little "tab" sticking out is actually a casting defect that caused this whole issue for people in the first place. I did this mod as mine was leaking from this hole with factory fitting. My fitting was only ran in until it hit that tab, which was only like 1/3 of the threads going into block. I think this tab caused the factory fittings to hit a false torque number early, before it was actually in all the way. I removed mine easy, being hardly threaded in. When I tried to run the new brass plug in, it hit that tab after only being threaded in a couple turns. Ended up using a little faith that my threads were lined up fine, and just cranked the hell out of the plug.

It worked and my plug basically bent that tab out of the way. I was able to run it down all the way after this until the flat underside if the plug was down all the way against the block. Removed it once to make sure threads were still ok. Then wrapped plug with pipe tape and ran it home. No leaks so far!

Great info! this tab...is it possible to remove it prior to installing the plug? My concern is if that piece of casting is large enough to float around and possibly cause a problem?

Let me know your thoughts and how is the car running?

sry fer da jack op.....peace

[go_go_gadget88]

Originally Posted by frankwjr

Great info! this tab...is it possible to remove it prior to installing the plug? My concern is if that piece of casting is large enough to float around and possibly cause a problem?

Let me know your thoughts and how is the car running?

sry fer da jack op.....peace

One may be able to remove it, I'm not sure. I considered trying to "knock it out" with a screwdriver and hammer. However, room to work is a factor, and I didn't want what you just mentioned to happen. Have a piece break off and float around causing other issues. I elected to just try and force the plug in and see if it bent the tab out enough. Must have worked fine as I was able to bottom out the brass plug into the block. Just took me a while as before I saw the tab, I thought I had plug crossthreaded or something. Ideally one would use the appropriate size tap to do basically the same thing, but I didn't have one handy.

I did put a little RTV under the head of the brass plug to seal it to the block good. Just extra insurance against a coolant leak. So far no issues for me, and seems to be running just fine with all this removed.

Here is a pic of what that tab looks like inside the hole. I took a pic before I sealed it up

[se7en]

I ended up cutting off that tab, which was a lot of concern cause I wasn't sure if I would end up causing a blockage of some sort.