Thanks everyone, yeah, feeling lucky about it. No question of driving it, I don't need moar oil slicks in the driveway. The pen is holding pretty well though, for moving it around the yard. My last trip, when it blew the plug, was about 1/4 mile back from lunch. I just had a shop fix a bunch of seals in the transfer case a couple weeks ago, so I've been looking for drips every time I park it. None at lunch. A pint on the ground at work later. Must have blown really close to work. Not even showing any missing on the dip stick yet.
A couple thoughts I have after reading all the threads: I'm going to try 2X 8mm x 1.25 set screws with red locktite (belt and suspenders) so I don't have to drill. Also, tapping in cast iron typically needs no lubricant, for the most part, as there's so much graphite in the iron already. But it's all oily anyway.
(The papermate pen just happened to fit well, and the taper from where the cap jams on worked as a good wedge. Made it home 5 miles, watching the mirror for oil tracks at every stop...)
Wait a sec, is the head aluminum? It's dirty as f____, looks like cast iron. (yeah, I'm not up to speed on these engines, I apologize, and too lazy to search around. Got 4 other broken cars I'm working on, this is supposed to be the back up, just runs rig).
) , don't drive until that plug is repaired. You risk seizing the engine, from low to no oil pressure.
