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I found the problem with my gray LUV leaking coolant. Blew out a freeze plug in the intake. Had to rig something to fix it, and today after filling it with coolant the other plug on the intake blew out. Where can I find freeze plugs for this truck???? I've tried the local auto parts stores, but I keep striking out. Anyone else had this problem before? And also, should I go ahead and replace all the freeze plugs in the block now or wait it out and see what happens? Thanks as always!

try a machine shop that does engine rebuilds. When i redid my engine the kit came whith new freeze plugs.

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...

measure the freeze plugs to the 1/8" and go get them in that size. if you don't want this to happen again, get the brass ones, they don't rust and when it freezes they pop out more reliably, i've lost 2 engines to steel freeze plugs.

if someone's telling you they don't have freeze plugs for a luv there just blowing ya off......it's happened to me a few times, they just don't want to help ya get parts for a "piece of shit" that doesn't show up in the books anymore. they change there minds when you leave 100 ft of rubber in front of there door.....auto parts store guys are usualy idiots that couldn't get a good grade in auto shop, or couldn't sell ice in hell, but still wanted to work in the auto biz.

if you really feel like replacing them all i have a 1980 engine sitting out that i could make a list of how many and what size for you to take to the store.

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Freeze plugs don't normally pop out without a reason. You might run a compression check, could be a cracked head or blown head gasket building serious pressure in the cooling system. Worth a check if you got the tools.

I need to correct my termonology. I meant the freeze plug rusted through from the inside out. When I started to run it and fill it with coolant after "fixing" the first one, the other one in the intake starting to leak. If you don't mind I would very much appreciate you measuring all of them for not just me, but for all us LUV truckers to know! I have a freeze plug set on order that is supposed to have all of them in it, but we will find out on Tuesday. Thanks guys!

Ah, I see now. Sounds like it got left to rot for a while, run without coolant, or some such. When I read "blew out" I just thought of some stories I've heard of blown head gaskets putting enough pressure in the cooling system to pop out otherwise just fine freeze plugs.

I'm hoping to let y'all know how it goes tomorrow or Wednesday when I get my freeze plug set. I'm hoping to pop all new freeze plugs in this motor and that will be the end of it. I do know that it sat for 2 years before I bought it. It also sat for 3 years sometime before I ever saw this truck. It has changed hands 3 times without titlework done so the original owner ended up with it after it was abandoned after a run from the police. I'm sure at some point in this truck's rather interesting life it has been run without coolant, and the cooling system is full of rust! As I said, I'm hoping a new set of freeze plugs will solve my problems.

Sounds like new plugs all around is the way to go. Might be a good time to really flush out the engine and radiator too, clear out any klingons in the cooling system. I've only ever had one LUV that leaked at a freeze plug and it just wept a tiny bit, but I guess I've been lucky so far. Makes me think about putting some coolant in one truck I've got that is sitting dry though.

I think if we knew half of the stories our trucks have lived through we'd all be pretty surprised. I've got one that managed to hit a telephone pole about 10 feet off the ground and that was just the part of its former life that I know about. Yours may have a bit more of a wild tale to tell, but I bet a lot of us have trucks that have similar stories

This truck really is a LUV truck! I found out the original owner's son took it on his honeymoon in 1985! But anyways, I'll let you know how it goes with the freeze plug set. I've already flushed out the engine and radiator fairly well, and that's when the trouble started.

DISCLAIMER: Freeze plug set does NOT include the 2 plugs for the intake!
I went to Auto Zone after getting these plugs and they had what I needed in the bin of freeze plugs. Put the plug in the intake, and I've put almost 100 miles on it with no problems. I kept the freeze plug set so I have them when I need them, but I'm gonna wait till I need to replace them. But my LUV is back on the road now and runs great! Thanks for all your help guys!

if i'm not mistaken these plugs are metric!

They are. 20 Millimeter to be exact! The misfire came back on Monady! Turns out the points went bad! Now he runs like a champ!!! I'm gonna be posting pics of both my trucks soon!