oil gallery plug leaking, options?

[akorcovelos]

so with some help I figured out that the oil gallery plug that hides behind the bottom tab of the water pump is leaking. :(

I was told to JB weld over it, sand down smooth so the pump sits flush and be done with it, but I would like to replace the plug with a new one, then JB it for insurance.

Has anyone else had to deal with this, and if so how did you handle it?

The only way I can think to do this is to drill a hole in the leaky plug and use a small screw driver to pry it out, then hammer in the new one. I'm just worried about metal chips getting into the oil passage.

[terrytinney]

I usually drill and tap a 1/4-20 thread, and screw in a bolt and use a slide hammer to pull them out, a screwdriver won't work. I usually do it on engines that are going to be cleaned afterward so I drill all the way through the plug, but if you're doing it in the car be careful to NOT drill all the way through, the stock plug is about 10mm thick. I don't know where to get a new plug, I make my own.

[akorcovelos]

I already got a new plug from the dealer, $.52. I think I'm going to see if I can seal it up with JB Weld before trying to pull and replace it.