Hi,
I have a 62 Thunderbird, original engine etc, brought via E-Bay into Australia. A very nice example, images @ http://photobucket.com/albums/b36/finesse87/TBird/

Anyway, I needed to remove heads to repair two broken head studs and found a section of the block between two welsh plugs on mine weeps coolant which not a pretty sight but this is not the end. I removed the generator splash shield and what is there is a disgrace! There is a missing welsh plug which has a metal cap 'thingy' and the block is weeping behind the shield all over the place.

Can someone confirm that the block is shot - I think it is called "AGE"!? It's a real shame as it was running like a top - if I replace it then getting the same year block is going to be tough. What to do, replace with long engine with a warranty and improve with possibly alternator and new carb or find a secondhand engine and have it rebuilt?

Thanks for your thoughts = Graeme

Graeme,

Very nice looking T Bird!

I am confused about the term welsh plug. However, and in general, a Ford FE engine is considered one of the more "bullet proof" blocks. If your car ran fine, I find it hard to imagine you have sudden and significant damage to the block itself. If not then the engine can be rebuilt.

If the block is gone, I'd rebuild a used short block if your machine shop says the heads are OK. If you buy a long block, chances are its a rebuild anyway. So, why not limit the work for yourself.

There may be a language barrier here, what do you mean by "welsh plug"? Is it something other than a freeze plug?
The only weeping I've seen on this type of engine, was from a corroded freeze plug. Unless you have a crack in the block.

Thanks Vince and Gabe - you are correct, it is a freeze plug, we call them "welsh plug" in Australia.

The block is cracked between two freeze plugs and in two places, coolant is seeping out very slightly through old repair work.

Looks like a long block is the go - we don't have FE engines in great numbers here to rebuild unfortunately.

Regards.

What a shame. Hope you can find a local supplier of the long block. Vince

What a shame,
Try to contact John Draxler, the owner of this website.
John has over 100 T Birds he has parted out, he is the most knowledgeable person you can find and he loves to help.
In this day and age shipping you a good block rebuilt or not should be simple.
I'd talk to John first
Best of luck

I just got of the phone with John (see my last reply) after receiving some great hard to find used parts from him. I mentioned your problem to John, he does have these blocks.
I found John to be totally honest and have very reasonable prices combined with priceless advice.
Good luck, here is his E Mail address:
JOHN T BIRD RANCH
E-mail Address(es):
jdrax@tds.net

Thankyou Gabe,

I appreciate your advice and I have heard and read a lot about JohnD. I located a source here in Australia that sells long engines for A$800 or A$1600 with a master rebuild kit - not cheap but good to locate.

But, get this - I found a fully tricked up 390 built by a large drag racing shop in Sydney for not much more with some performance gear and transmission.

Guess which one I have my hand up to get!!

Cheers to all

Graeme

Irish luck