Freeze plug/opening

[Lorence]

318 small block has two freeze plugs in the rear of block correct? These plugs are only accessible by removing the motor or tranny correct?  Also there is a finger sized hole facing straight downward right next to the starter on the rear drivers side of block.  Is this hole supposed to be opened or plugged?  Thanks

[fy469rtse]

Photo, ? It could be a threaded hole for a coolant , oil gallery plug
Freeze plugs usually larger round hole

[Lorence]

It's a friends car so won't have photo for a couple of days.  Little more info is its a 74 318.  It's not as large as a freeze plug I can stick my pinky finger in.  It's located an inch or two next to starter towards middle of motor (right of starter).  It's not a threaded drain plug and I'm not sure if it needs to be plugged or not cause there's nothing in there now. Would there be just a casting hole that's left open?  Also to pull tranny do I need to unbolt flex plate from dust cover area first?  Thanks for any info and will take photo soon.

[70 sublime]

Yes there is frost plugs on the back side of a 318 motor that you can only reach when the tranny is off the motor

My first Charger had a 318 with headers and the frost plugs started to leak
changed a couple with the motor still in the car working around the headers was not fun
Then the water started to come out by the transmission 

Just pulled the whole thing and changed them all (I even changed the little ones in each end of the heads)
Put a new coat of paint on it before motor went back in

[John_Kunkel]

The hole on the side of the block is probably for the block/bellhousing struts...should be one on both sides of the block.

[Lorence]

Ok replaced the two rear feeze plugs on bottom of motor however the leak is coming from the back of engine.  I know there are 2 freeze plugs on back of engine above bell housing is there any others on back?  Say maybe between the bellhousing and engine?  How May total freeze plugs are in rear of engine? 

[fy469rtse]

Is there ? Freeze plugs in the ends of stock heads ? Sorry been so long since I used anything except block for factory parts ,

[Bob]

Actually they are core plugs that were used for debris removal after casting. They used to weld them shut but was cheaper to plug them.

[fy469rtse]

There's some oil gallery plugs and cam plug in behind bell housing, I think that's it

[Lorence]

Thanks for help.  Trying to figure out possibilities before pulling tranny.  It's definitely coolant so only 2 plugs in rear above bell housing and maybe coolant plugs on heads?

[Lorence]

If anyone has a photo of rear of a small block it might be helpful. 

[70 sublime]

I took a couple pictures of a 318 with no tranny today
Just got to find the cord to load

The big one is the end of the cam but the 2 lower ones are frost plugs

Second picture you can see the one in the end of the head

Third picture you can see the front block frost plug in about the same area as the back one is

[Sublime/Sixpack]