Hows it guys, First off, merry xmas and what not, Now what i got for xmas was a leak lol, Annoying at this time of year when i have heaps of time off work.

Anyway my car is a 98 EL fairmont ghia and its leaking from between the bellhousing of auto box and the block. I have looked all around up top with a torch and a mirror and i cannot see any thing leaking. I was wondering is there a frost plug on the back of the head or just on the block itself? Which means removing the gearbox? I take it thats the only thing that can leak down there really? Is it a common problem?

Any help would be awesome before i start pulling things apart lol, Cheers guys

Frost plug = welch plug? there is one in the back of the block and yes, engine or gearbox out to replace. Is a fault on these motors and as I have said on a previous reply, Ford should have been using brass welch plugs years ago. I have never seen one fail unless incorrectly installed. To give some relevance to that statement, I have been playing with engines for 50 years. And is it a common problem? the last three or four 4l ohc falcon motors I have worked on all needed them replaced. Solution as I said brass welch plugs and quality anti corrosion fluid in radiator

Pull out the gearbox,also remove the flex plate/flywheel youll see the corroded core plug on the back of the engine block.
Make sure you put some aviation gasket sealant on the core plug when you fit the new one, helps to get a perfect seal.
I did this to my ef 4.0

Last edited by milo 302 on Thu Dec 31, 2009 7:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Yeah is that what there called lol, my bad. Bugger it all, so ford dont use brass? Thats stupid of them.. So out comes the gearbox and replace with a brass one then. Cheers for the help mate

Core plug? How many diffrent names do these things have lol. And aviation sealant, is that a good sealent will normal old gasket silicone not work?

Welch plug is the proper name or core plugs they both corrode
Aviation gasket goo is a sticky horrible goo that you brush on and it never goes hard, get it at most auto parts shops.
It will work better than silicone in this situation.

Last edited by milo 302 on Thu Dec 31, 2009 7:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Lol dont know where i got frost plug from... Cheers for the info mate... i should head out to the shed now and start on it before next year lol, and sweet as will get some of that

No worries

Found the buggered one.. Was the 2nd one from gearbox, water was running down block into bellhousing and out the bottom of bell housing, pulled off exhaust mani and wham bam done, glad i looked into it more rather than pulling that mammoth auto gearbox out. cheers for the help