freeze plugs pushed out

I dug my boat out of hibernation this morning and discovered that two freeze plugs on the starboard side were pushed out at some point during the off season. The manifolds and block were drained in the fall prior to the cold stuff. No antifreeze was added at that time as we normally don't need to do that in SC.

No attempt has been made to turn the boat over.

What's the recommended course of action at this point? How do you reinstall the freeze plugs? I want to believe that the block didn't crack, but I suppose the only way of knowing is to get the freeze plugs back in and crank it up correct?

Oil is clean at this time, but I'd guess that water would only show up after an attempt to crank and only if the block were compromised, yes?

Suggestions?

I betttttt it will be fine. We had a 94 sport that came in this winter after being frozen outside for literally months. It didn't even push all the plugs out somehow. When we pulled the block plugs there was literally ice cubes sticking out of the holes. The only thing that cracked were the manifolds and the bottom of the thermostat (manifold side) housing. Manifolds and a new intake and we were in business.

I have pushed me drivers read plug out a few times behind the starter with no issues.

I nose mine all the way down on my parents inclined driveway with a floor jack. Plug has never popped since.

Use some high temp copper seal. Works well with the rust that happens around there. Get a big socket the same size as the ID of the plug and a small hammer to tap it back in,

If you are feeling real froggy go to the auto parts store and get some new brass ones.

Yeah, what Bruce and Zach said. I'd clean up the casting hole with emery cloth if it's rusty. No sealant unless the fit is loose... It should take a bit of force to go in, it's just a press fit.

for marine engines when i install freeze plugs i always put a light coat of permatex aviation form-a-gasket on them and hammer them in. its expensive stuff but greta to have around. i also use it on all of the manifold plugs when i replace them and any raw water elbos or nipples. its flexible but holds strong.
keep in mind you cannot just hammer in your old freeze pugs, buy new ones. they are cheap.
I would do as everyone says. just put new ones back in and run it and hope everythings ok.
they are there as a sort of fuse-able link that is made to fail before the casting does. but thats not always the case. so remember the fingers crossed part.

This happened to me a few years ago. The engine was fine. I went to auto parts store and just bought the metal/ rubber replacement with the bolt in the center. Turn the bolt which compresses the rubber and forms a good seal. It's a lot easier than trying to hammer the original plug back in given the close quarters.

After this last winters deep freeze and as far south it got I believe we will be seeing a lot of frozen blocks.
As I don't wish this bad luck on anyone I am sitting here grinning like a butchers dog waiting for the right boat to show up for sale with a cracked block as I happen to have an extra motor sitting in the garage

Steve,
I suggest getting a couple new core plugs. They aren't expensive even in brass. New ones haven't been compressed so they will fit tighter. I don't suggest plumbers test plugs. They aren't designed for hotter engine temps. The rubber with the toggle that holds them in are better but should be only used for an emergency. Brass is permanent and rubber isn't!! It been mentioned that they also eliminate freeze protection. Well, keep in mind those plugs on the engine block are NOT "freeze" plugs and were NEVER intended to provide any freeze protection. They are there to plug the holes left over from the casting process used to hold the core to form the water cavity.

We call them "Welch" plugs downunder

Funny Mark on how English is different all over the world. When I had a Triumph motorcycle the manual said to rinse an oil screen in paraffin,I remember thinking, won't that clog it up? I'll just use gas instead!

Gary S wrote: I'll just use gas instead!

Don't you mean Petrol

Thanks for the input fellas. This one is going to require more time, tools, knowledge and experience than I can allot to it so I'm going to let a professional handle it. One of the freeze plugs that popped out is right above the motor mount and I just can't get to it w/o removing that mount.

I suppose it''ll be a good time to have a few smaller things addressed while it's in for that.

Many thanks for the assistance though. I'll report back, hopefully with good news, about the outcome.

Steve
Any progress on the repair?