Help Installing Frost Plug Heater On 350

nubuilder · October 27, 2008

I bought a frost plug heater from Kat's by Five Star. The directions aren't that great. I have located one plug on the passenger side (by the starter) and one on the drivers side (right by the oil filter [i also have an aux oil cooler so the filter is at a 45 deg. forward in relation to the block]).

Which side of the engine should I install it on (1998 350cu)?

Has anyone done this already?

Any help would be appreciated (called local shops and is around $70/hr for labor).

MS3DALE · October 27, 2008

From the factory their on the driver's side of the block,All my trucks from the factory were that way,and anytime I had to add them afterwards thats the side the instructions said to install them on.

nubuilder · October 28, 2008

OK, how did you do it?

Did you remove anything? Right now the oil filter is in the way.

What did you use to remove the frost plug?

MS3DALE · October 28, 2008

Well,I'm not going to be too much help.

Most of my trucks I special ordered,and when I did I ordered them with the block heater.

But on the few I didn't order.......On my '94..I had one of the guys here at the shop install it,And on my '99 & '04 I did install those myself,but on those trucks the freeze plug is screwed into the block,so I just unscrewed the plug and screwed in the heater.

nubuilder · October 29, 2008

OK, any idea what type of plug is in a 1998 350? (I'm assuming that your 99 had a 327) I don't think it is a screw-in one because the heater has an O-ring on it.

Any suggestions as to how to remove the plug? (tap it; hammer on one side of it to swivel it; us a air-hammer on it) I guess I'm looking for a way so that I don't have to drill it and leave metal shavings in the coolant jacket.

MS3DALE · October 29, 2008

Your correct (Your '98 is like the '94 &'97 I had) It doesn't screw in,You push it in place and tighten the screw down,and it in turn pulls a "butterfly" type retainer against the inside of the block (As you can probably make out by looking at it)

On removing the plug....I'd probably try and tap a hole in it and pry it out,but...BE CAREFUL...You don't want to score the machined surface of the water jacket up,or the o-ring on the heater might not seal and you'll have a leak.

nubuilder · October 29, 2008

I have the Z71 package so I have an Aux. oil cooler. The oil filter comes forward at a 45 degree. Between the filter and the block is a extra machined adapter that allows the oil to come out of the engine, go to the cooler, and then return into the filter.

Do you think it is worth it to try to remove this whole assembly? (I don't think it is)

As long as I'm at it, how do you suggest changing the filter as to not get oil on my front diff. (the stupid diff is right below the filter)