went to take the mini out today and noticed water
dripping out of the centre front welch plug.
question is should I change just this one plug or all three
and is there only three plugs on this engine as I can't see any more

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1966 mustang coupe 289 auto
1970 mgb roadster auto
1970 cooper S mk2
1976 mini S
1964 wolseley 24/80
http://s160.photobucket.com/albums/t173/1966mini/

On a 998 Deluxe there are 4 welch plugs- 3 on front and one hidden above the flywheel housing, behind the steady bar.
Get brass ones, they last good.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

there is more than 3...

i think there is 1 or 2 under either the timing cover or clutch housing or both....the boffins will know.

edit...ok it took me more than 10 minutes to write that...one such boffin got to it before me....

what do the welch plugs do?

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Inconspicuously Conspicuous
Appreciation without Depreciation
forever chasing clearer skies...

They stop water flowing out and air flowing in Sorry

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

They hold the water in

Cheers

Aaron

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They leak at the worst possible moments.

They really have 2 purposes:
1. They are there to allow the sand cores to be removed after the iron engine block has been cast in the foundry.
2. In freezing climates, if the water freezes overnight and then expands (as it's ice) in the block, the plugs will dislodge and relieve the pressure. They are called `freeze plugs' in the US for this reason.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

do they dislodge completely
or do they just move out a little
and when the water melts you tap them back in?

_________________
Inconspicuously Conspicuous
Appreciation without Depreciation
forever chasing clearer skies...

I dunno, I've never seen it happen. Not much block icing here in Oz, man..

I suspect you would buy new ones.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

1. its the holes cast around the sand cores that the Welsh Plugs are filling ...

2. come to Canberra in July nah only jokin.....

to answer the question above...if one has gone the chances are the lot are dodgey....get a suitable screwdriver in the centre of the plug,

when I nod my head...you whack it with a hammer (not too hard)

when the screwdriver neatly pierces the plug...carefull waggle it around until the plug comes out

clean out the hole

drift a new welsh plug in using the correct size socket...

Doc do you use any sort of sealant or goop???

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"Show me the Mini!"

I used to use Stag, (got for nix) now I just bung a bit of Aviation gasket cement in there. Loctite 515 is good too.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanking due

I distinctly remember one old mech putting a thin smear of grease on em to make the suckers easier to drift in....

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"Show me the Mini!"

I love that Line

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

yep they can come right out with the expansion of the ice.. the one on the back of the holden heads is a real pain to replace..Im talking old 186 here.. Ive even seen cars with hermetic ellements in the sump to keep the oil warm thus stopping water freezing. they then have to be plugged to the power when parkeds for the night....dont think you'd want to loctite them in if you ever go anywhere real cold like a ski holiday.. have used grease b4

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No longer Ms Westwoods mini outside her original kings road shop