engine sideplate drain tap

edmond

Member
hello, i decided to try and drain some sludge from my 2200 tc because it runs hot . i tried to open the tap in the engine sideplate but the wing nut broke so i removed the whole assembly expecting to be engulfed by water at any moment ...but there was no water escaping so i thought it must be bunged up, had a poke around with a small screwdriver and there does not seem to be a hole into the engine ,so my question is , is it common not to have a hole or am i missing something , my thoughts are that perhaps there are different types of side plate and that perhaps mine has had the wrong one fitted , thanks for any replies in advance ,
 
i have had the tap in a vice and got it opening and closing so now i will try a drill bit in the hole and see if its just hard crud and see if i can clear it
but it felt like metal when i poked a screwdriver in the hole .might end up removing the side plate , if i can pluck up the courage and enthusiasm. i will post an update in case anyone else has this trouble
 
I have recently replaced the side plates on my 2200 and the area around the base of the cylinders, especially at the rear of the block , was well filled with debris including rust & sand, so I am not surprised it feels like solid metal. I must say it was a fiddly job, having to take off the engine mounting brackets and studs to get the plates off. Fortunately all the bolts holding the plate came out without issue.
 
If you are removing a sideplate I recommend replacement, having committed to doing all the work. If its got that much sludge in there the inside face will be well corroded - BTDT!
 
got the sideplate off, there was the usual brown sludge ,but not as much as i had on my 2000. but there was also thick black layer of what looks like carbon deposits and boy was it hard this was blocking the drain hole in a big solid lump.
i had to use a small hammer and chisel to remove it. the side plate was ok or so i thought till i accidentally passed it over my old 500 watt work light and noticed several pin prick holes in what looked like solid metal. new side plate ordered today . and i dont look forward to putting the small screws behind the oil pump. one thing crossed my mind , has anyone found a way of lining the inside of the plate with a waterproof barrier, just thought some one might have ,due to cost of a new side plate.
 
, has anyone found a way of lining the inside of the plate with a waterproof barrier, just thought some one might have ,due to cost of a new side plate.
If you use a quality antifreeze all year around and change it frequently there will be no corrosion issues.
 
Hi, While you're there are you going to do the other side because that may not be far behind?

Colin
 
with my eyesight they may be either . but i think they are setscrews as they are threaded from top to bottom , a bolt is only threaded part way . correct me if i am wrong,

You're wrong. It depends on the head, not the thread..
 
I always thought it was as Edmond says, setscrews are threaded all the way up, whereas bolts have a smooth section on the shank.

:hmm:
I was advised the same as an Apprentice in the 1960's at Austin, but over the years there seems to be more than one interpretation and that includes which country you are from
 
When I was working for Land Rover, I had been at meetings with LR and Ford(US) engineers , when Ford owned LR , and had to point out that the two groups had been talking about different things !
 
Bolts always have a nut. Screws never have a nut. So in this case, they are screws.

But of course that's not a rule that anybody follows really.

Yours
Vern
 
Dont forget the other fix option - if it aint broke, fix it until it is.
Re the drain taps , I have a 94 3.9 block in the garage with a drain tap on one side that I cant move for love nor money. Not quite ready to go for broke (literally), but it wont be long.
 
tore the gasket putting it on so i had to improvise ....made one from some roofing flashing with bitumen on 1 side . bitumen to engine block .did this cos my other car popped is head gasket and i still had to get about , i can report that after 250 miles it is still holding up , so i will leave it as is and keep my eye on it . got the fixings behind the oil pump back in with a ring spanner and a long screwdriver to push them in untill threads bit. easy peasy really but fiddly and time consuming . oh and needed elastoplast afterwards cos its a tight fit
 
Back
Top