we have a 1996 dodge ram van 350, during the cold snap all the frost plugs blew out. can they be replaced and what is the chances that it split the motor and how can we tell if it did??

 

The job of the freeze plugs is to be a weak link and blow out before the block cracks.

Yes you can buy new ones and replace the ones that blew out. Hopefully the two on the back of the engine didn't blow out, because either the engine or the tranny has to come out to get at those two. The only way you're going to know for sure if the block is good, is to replace the freeze plugs and fill the system up. Use just water at first so you don't waste expensive antifreeze, and if there are no leaks, drain the system back down and pour in the antifreeze. You will want to change the thermostat as well because it could've been damaged when everything froze up.

 

Hopefully you didn't crank the engine with the block frozen or there's bound to be major trouble. In addition to the freeze plugs blowing out there could also be damage in the lifter galley area if the engine really froze up good. Only way to check this is to remove the intake manifold. Expensive lesson for running weak anti-freeze in January!