If it doesnt show under my name, I have an 89 d100 with a 318.

My questions are, is it common for the freeze plugs to become so corroded that they leak coolant onto the starter, cause well, mines doing that. and how major or minor of a job is it to change them all out?

the second thing is, after I found the leak to be the cause of my starter failure (was dripping down and running into the case and shorting) I removed it I noticed a reasonably large opening directly above the starter, i cant get a light in there to see up into it, but its roughly a half inch in diameter and pretty deep, letting my six inch extension slide all the way up there... who can tell me what this is??

 

i can't think of what large opening there would be about the starter. changing the freeze plug should not be too hard of a job. you should search it on you tube for a video. i know there is a couple of videos.

 

Is the hole you are talking about in the same flat part of the block that the oil pan seals on?

 

It may be the same, but it's been a few days since I've been under there

 

so I finally Found a decent Photo Online of what I was talking about, (been busy with work all week) The only one that I noticed is at the rear where the starter would be

 

Those are the holes I was referring to but I can't tell you why they are there.

 

well thanks for taking a look anyway. I appreciate all the help you've been so far Hope your holidays were enjoyable.