Help: LB7 Head Freeze plug??

jmaz268

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May 20, 2010
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Will I'm down here at TS, but I am broke now.

Not sure what caused it, and not entirely sure I know the issue is. But I'm thinking I bursted a freeze plug on the back side of the head.

Honestly never heard of anyone having this happen before?

I did a burnout shortly before that, (Which I never do :mad:)...and then prepping the truck I was idling to burn some fuel. Then the Low Coolant light popped up.

I hoped out and took a look under the truck and there was a steady stream of coolant coming off the bellhousing.

I removed downpipe and could feel part of the head, and it was wet. But the Up pipe was right in the way from confirming it or not. and it started storming so I gave up, and now its been raining most of the day.

So I'll have to finish pulling it after the nice long tow ride home.


So wondering what your guys thoughts were.

-John
 

TheBac

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Apr 19, 2008
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Sure you didnt burst the turbo coolant drain hose? IIRC, it runs right above that area.

You'd have to be building a serious amount of pressure to blow a freeze plug, wouldnt you? The truck wasnt showing any other signs of pressurizing coolant before the mishap, was it?
 

ripmf666

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Sep 20, 2006
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Sure you didnt burst the turbo coolant drain hose? IIRC, it runs right above that area.

You'd have to be building a serious amount of pressure to blow a freeze plug, wouldnt you? The truck wasnt showing any other signs of pressurizing coolant before the mishap, was it?

That's what I'm hoping for Tom. As much that was coming out as he said sounded like a return or feed line. If not wecwill get her fixed up for him.
 

jmaz268

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May 20, 2010
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Sure you didnt burst the turbo coolant drain hose? IIRC, it runs right above that area.

You'd have to be building a serious amount of pressure to blow a freeze plug, wouldnt you? The truck wasnt showing any other signs of pressurizing coolant before the mishap, was it?

The valley is completely dry....but running my fingers around the up pipe it was wet.

Honestly none that I know of, I want to pull the glow plugs and compression test it, but honestly I'm terrified of breaking one off in the heads.

I'll know for sure Monday night, possibly sunday, depending on how froggy I'm feeling when I get back home at close to midnight after trailering home.
 

madmatt

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so maybe I missed it in another thread but what did ya find leaking??? Those plugs are in there!!! can't imagine one leaking. Finished a basket case for a customer he had paritialy built and found he had put the heads on the wrong sides. Drove new plugs in the back and fought the shit out of the plugs getting them out.
 

TheBac

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How about that rectangular cover on the adapter plate, located behind the uppipe, above the starter area? That gasket can leak and blow coolant all over.
 

ripmf666

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Sep 20, 2006
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so maybe I missed it in another thread but what did ya find leaking??? Those plugs are in there!!! can't imagine one leaking. Finished a basket case for a customer he had paritialy built and found he had put the heads on the wrong sides. Drove new plugs in the back and fought the shit out of the plugs getting them out.

He has not torn into it. i'm hoping its something stupid like a coolant line leaking.
 

ripmf666

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How about that rectangular cover on the adapter plate, located behind the uppipe, above the starter area? That gasket can leak and blow coolant all over.


Thats the first thing I told him to check out Tom. I remember when we were in the Smokies and the yellow truck blew that gasket and thought it was a HG.
 

jheyob

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Jan 30, 2009
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That was you?!?!?!

Haha, I had some buddies tell me about it the morning after, they said a freeze plug blew but I couldn't believe it. I was at the sleep inn/days inn area with my truck and a '10 dodge. Your truck looked good though :thumb:
 

TheBac

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Thats the first thing I told him to check out Tom. I remember when we were in the Smokies and the yellow truck blew that gasket and thought it was a HG.

Well, I hope its something simple like that. What is that outlet used for anyway?

What condition are the heater hoses/connections in?
 

maxthis

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Jun 14, 2007
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Hmm....something else i just thought of. I know on some trucks the heater core box has a drain in it. Maybe you got luck and got a raging hole in your heater core and it's pouring out of the box...not sure where the drain is for that?
 

Chevy1925

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Oct 21, 2009
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Hmm....something else i just thought of. I know on some trucks the heater core box has a drain in it. Maybe you got luck and got a raging hole in your heater core and it's pouring out of the box...not sure where the drain is for that?

thats not really a lucky thing either. you gotta tear the whole dash out to get to the heater core. not a fun chore
 

05_LLY

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Aug 7, 2006
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Any news john? I know in the quick look over i gave it i checked the heater core hose connections, the plate on the rear cover and the heater core drain. My honest thought is head gasket, ive only ever seen one truck do that same deal but it was @ cyl#2, found a broken head bolt, truck was an 100% stock 100k mile 01 lb7! Good luck John!
 

zacwht20

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Feb 4, 2011
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John's feeling a little under the weather today (took today off work to finally start digging into Clifford) after a longer than anticipated trip to Wayne's to take the trailer back... Damn Busch light will get you every time