2F Cam Galley Plug???

[Boston Mangler]

Hey Guys

I think mine may be leaking. I got a oil leak and pretty much eliminated anything that can be seen with the naked eye and it seems to be leaking from the upper rear area of the engine and the valve cover is brand new and i dont think its that.

Anyone know how to replace this thing with the engine in the rig. Seems to be at the rear of the head and the FSM dont show it. A friend of mine (cruiserhead) suggested it may be the galley plug. I dont even know what that is!

I know the 3FE has a notorious one on the side of the head.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[60wag]

The galley plug is near cyl#5 above the spark plug. There's a plug pressed into the head to block a hole for a drilled oil passage. Sometimes they leak, sometimes they fall out and all your oil gushes out. Not too hard too fix. Do you think the leak is on the dizzy side of the engine or at the rear above the bellhousing? The sidecover can leak. Sometimes sidecover leaks appear to be rear main leaks.

 

[Boston Mangler]

Thanks, is there only one galley plug? Is there one in the REAR of the head?

 

[CRZRJames]

The freeze plug your friend is probably talking about is the one that covers the back end of the camshaft. It's not in the head, but in the block just below the head, and in the back near the firewall. On my FJ40, I can get to it by removing the transmission cover, but I can't imagine getting to it on a FJ60 or 62 without pulling the engine. You may be able to get to it from below after pulling the transmission and bellhousing. You'll have to pull the transmission anyway to check if it's a rear main seal. Incidentally, even if it's not the rear main, I'd replace it while I was in there.

It is an ordinary freeze plug about 50mm dia. You could probably worry it out of there with a hammer and thin flat screwdriver however, be careful not to gouge the block because that might compromise the seal on the replacement plug.

Someone here has done this operation with the engine installed. Hopefully they will respond soon.

Good Luck,
James

 

[Landpimp]

this is the gallery plug location on a fj62 which is the same as all 2f's. the plug on this one has been drilled and tapped for a oil line(by the PO) So look on yours where they brass line is(in my pic)

as you can see its right by the #5 plug, it gallery plug is angled toward the rear of the block so its not easy to see looking stright at it.

 

[lovetoski]

Pimp - does that oil line run to a guage? If not, what is it for?

 

[dd113]

The cam plug can be accessed only by dropping the tranny on a F series motors. It is below the top PS of the bellhousing. I have never seen one leak. Pimp showed the oil galley plug. It may seep for a while but when it goes you know it real quick. Even money says valve cover or lifter cover leaks.

It is VERY easy to get the gasket on a 2f/3f trapped by the valve cover and have it leak all over.

 

[Boston Mangler]

Thanks Guys

I am going to dig into it further after Xmas is over!

Happy Holidays to your all!

p.s. it is DEFNIITELY coming from the REAR of the engine, not the galley plug near the #5 cylinder, the whole engine is clean and dry in that area

thanks

 

[Landpimp]

it goes back to the oil filter mount(and I assume back into the block)

its a PO mod........and the PO is unsure why his mechanic did it.

Pimp - does that oil line run to a guage? If not, what is it for?

 

[Duster]

60wag: Great description (see RED )! Fell out (found it on driveway near the rig). Now it's peeing all over #5. Please talk about "easy fix." I assume OEM plug can be had but a big ol' "howdoya'doit?" on the install. Thanks in advance.

P.S. to Pimp: Great pic! Confrimed 60wag's script. Thanks!

The galley plug is near cyl#5 above the spark plug. There's a plug pressed into the head to block a hole for a drilled oil passage. Sometimes they leak, sometimes they fall out and all your oil gushes out. Not too hard too fix. Do you think the leak is on the dizzy side of the engine or at the rear above the bellhousing? The sidecover can leak. Sometimes sidecover leaks appear to be rear main leaks.

 

[lovetoski]

Here is 60wag's description of how to fix your leak. (Posted nearly 3 years ago.) I did this and it's pretty easy. Make sure you use the correct drill bit (not listed below). Don't remember the correct size, but the tap will say on the package. I let the truck sit overnight to make sure the epoxy cured.

Quote from 60wag...
The plug can be replaced with a 1/8 NPT threaded pipe plug without removing the head. I removed the valve cover and the one headbolt that the oil flows around. With the bolt removed you can shove a piece of rag into the hole to catch any metal chips. Drill out the old plug and tap for 1/8 pipe. I coated the pipe plug with epoxy before screwing it in. Its not hard to do and takes about an hour going slowly.

From what I've read, the most common failure of the plug is on rebuilt engines that have had the head hot tanked. The hot tank loosens the plug and the increased oil pressure from the rebuild blows it out. Yea, its a design flaw but it doesn't usually show up until the engine is into its second life.