Significant coolant passage blockage: my plan?

[Steve McMahan]

On my 5.0 from a 87 TBird, I pulled the lower intake off today and found the rear water crossover 100% blocked. I chiseled out what I could, but I can see some significant loose crud inside the rear of the heads.



I don’t want to remove the heads, so I thought, what if I removed the rear freeze plug at the rear of each head, and using the front coolant passage as the inflow, flush the heads out? I have a complete set of freeze plugs I was going to change out, as one has a slow weep. Bad idea, ok idea, good idea (pick one). I also had a broken stud at the same location, got it off with the welder and a nut.



Thanks for your time and support.

 

[rvrtrash]

You undoubtably have the same level of crud all through the cooling system. I would seal it back up and run some radiator flush chemicals through it, and then check to see if it's clean. If that doesn't work, take the engine apart and have it tanked. If you have to do that, don't forget the heater core and radiator.

 

[giantpune]

you got the engine on the stand where you can flip it over. I'd rotate it so the head is oriented in a way that you can fill it up and it'll hold. Then fill each head up with evaporust or something. Let it sit and work. Then flush it out with a hose.

 

[Steve McMahan]

Great idea @giantpune, I’ll try that.