Flathead oil and magnetic drain plugs

[gary griffin]

    I am trying to decide what oil to run in a rebuilt 346 flat-head. Synthetic??

    Also since I was involved in  airplanes so many  years I would like to know if anybody is using magnetic oil plugs in their Flathead, and if so where can they be obtained? The drain plug appears to be straight thread unlike tapered pipe threads?

[Bobby B]

Gary,
Hi….Is that thing running yet???  I use 10W-30 or 10W-40 Dino Oil. I personally stay away from Synthetic oils in older vehicles. Just my opinion.
                                     Bobby

[Hilarius]

Gary,
I don't know if there are magnetic plugs on the market.
There are, though, a variety of those new and very strong magnets that can easily be attached to the original drain plug. Being in Europe, I used 10 mm OD magnets ( 3/8" works, too ) with a threaded stud in the back. You just bore a suitable hole in the plug and scew in the magnet.
Here are two pictures of what the unit looks like.
Hilmar.

[Jon S]

Gary,
Hi….Is that thing running yet???  I use 10W-30 or 10W-40 Dino Oil. I personally stay away from Synthetic oils in older vehicles. Just my opinion.
                                     Bobby

Totally agree!

[gary griffin]

Hilarious, I like what you did but I think the Flathead pan drain plug is too small to drill out and have enough metal left to tap and install a magnet. I will try to find out the plug size and threads per inch and see what I can come up with. 

[Steve Passmore]

Hilarious, I like what you did but I think the Flathead pan drain plug is too small to drill out and have enough metal left to tap and install a magnet. I

I think you will find Gary that Hilmar did do that to his Flathead drain plugs?

[Hilarius]

Gary,
no reason to suspect that you will wind up with the hex head in your hand and the rest of the plug in your oil pan.
These magnets come in many varieties. Best for our application is the one with a small stud in the back.
The OD is 10 mms and the stud a bare 3 mms. So you can by no means weaken your plug. Pictured is an ordinary flat head Cadillac plug with the magnet installed and a magnet next to it,
The incredible attracting power is illustrated by a 1 Kilogram hammer held by the tiny magnet.
Hilmar

[Steve Passmore]

Where do you get those Hilmar?

[Smedly]

Wow, that is crazy strong. I second where do you find those magnets?

[Ray Morrison #29582]

Try this site.

http://www.drainplugmagnets.com/magneticdrainplugshome.php

[gary griffin]

Thanks Hilarius, I had my pan off today and was thinking the next time it is off I might weld a bigger bung in it for a larger plug and magnet. I will try the 10-mm for now though, next oil change.  I was even considering a drain valve in addition to a magnet but have not decided on that. Even though my engine was boiled out I am getting a lot of old residue. I expect very frequent oil changes are in my future!  I checked the website of the company in the UK that produces them and if they live up to their advertising we all need one though they are pricey.

[Paul Phillips]

What is the correct thread for the 346 flathead drain plug?  My car is at Jenkins for the upholstery install and and it will be a few days before I get it back.  Hopefully enough time to buy or fabricate a suitable magnetic plug.

Thanks!

[gary griffin]

I think you can find an additional drain plug from a vendor, possibly Eddie Jones, as he salvages prewar Cadillac's. That is what I am planning to do long before my first oil change. Drain plugs are special because they have a flat surface for gasket contact.  Maybe on of our vendors will think of producing them for all of the different years?  I have wondered why they are not standard equipment on cars, but I guess they would rather the cars wear out earlier so they can sell the new flashy models?