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Old 02-08-2014, 12:04 AM   #1
Andrew S
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Default Welsh Plugs

Why do we have Welsh plugs?

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Old 02-08-2014, 12:07 AM   #2
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Default Re: Welsh Plugs

From memory they're a necessity when blocks are manufactured.
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Old 02-08-2014, 12:12 AM   #3
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Default Re: Welsh Plugs

Thanks that could explain it. Mine were totally rusted out, had to replace them all...
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Old 02-08-2014, 12:32 AM   #4
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Default Re: Welsh Plugs

Welch plugs are plugs where the sand castings were for the water jackets in manufacture
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Old 02-08-2014, 09:53 AM   #5
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Default Re: Welsh Plugs

Check out these links for aluminum block casting photos by the Healey Factory for its Healey 3000 engine project. I think it illustrates the function of the Welch plugs as Grippy and ohzone mentioned.
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http://www.healeyfactory.com.au/dmd/...attern-making/

http://www.healeyfactory.com.au/dmd/...s/dmd-casting/
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Old 02-08-2014, 09:59 AM   #6
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Default Re: Welsh Plugs

What interesting links, thanks Bill...
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Old 02-08-2014, 11:25 AM   #7
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Default Re: Welsh Plugs

Why are they called welsh plugs? A guy from Wales invented it ?
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Old 02-08-2014, 11:27 AM   #8
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Default Re: Welsh Plugs

Quote:
Originally Posted by malazn mafia View Post
Why are they called welsh plugs? A guy from Wales invented it ?
Because they leek ?
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Old 02-08-2014, 11:38 AM   #9
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Default Re: Welsh Plugs

Quote:
Originally Posted by malazn mafia View Post
Why are they called welsh plugs? A guy from Wales invented it ?
From Wiki...........

According to Nevin Hubbard of the M.D. Hubbard Spring Company, the Welch plug was originally designed in the 1900s by the Welch brothers at the Welch Motor Car Company of Pontiac, Michigan. Hubbard claims that "at that time core holes in the engine blocks were fitted with pipe plugs. During one of these run-ins a pipe plug backed out. In order to get back on the road one of the brothers drove a quarter or half dollar into the hole. From this they developed the Welch plug, some with the help of my great grandfather Martin Hubbard. They then patented the plug and the M.D. Hubbard Spring Company become the sole manufacturer of the Welch plug for the life of the patent."
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Old 02-08-2014, 12:05 PM   #10
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Default Re: Welsh Plugs

Where I came they are called "frost plugs" . If coolant , in this case water froze . The plugs popped out .. So hopefully no damage was done to block..
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Old 02-08-2014, 04:49 PM   #11
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Default Re: Welsh Plugs

Quote:
Originally Posted by GasOLane View Post
From Wiki...........

According to Nevin Hubbard of the M.D. Hubbard Spring Company, the Welch plug was originally designed in the 1900s by the Welch brothers at the Welch Motor Car Company of Pontiac, Michigan. Hubbard claims that "at that time core holes in the engine blocks were fitted with pipe plugs. During one of these run-ins a pipe plug backed out. In order to get back on the road one of the brothers drove a quarter or half dollar into the hole. From this they developed the Welch plug, some with the help of my great grandfather Martin Hubbard. They then patented the plug and the M.D. Hubbard Spring Company become the sole manufacturer of the Welch plug for the life of the patent."
Nice info!

I had a dig in my parts stash and found a box of Hubbard welch plugs for the WW2 jeep.
cheers
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Last edited by Bill M; 25-01-2015 at 03:17 PM.
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Old 02-08-2014, 04:55 PM   #12
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Default Re: Welsh Plugs

Quote:
Originally Posted by malazn mafia View Post
Why are they called welsh plugs? A guy from Wales invented it ?
Check the spelling, they are Welch plugs, not Welsh plugs.
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Old 02-08-2014, 06:29 PM   #13
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Default Re: Welsh Plugs

similar to what ebxr said, above, I called USA to order some for my Packard. The guy didn't know what I was on about. Eventually we spoke the same language when I called them 'freeze plugs'
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