[Javier Hernandez]

The top of the drain plug to the exhuast manifold broke off leaving the threads stuck with plastic inside. After trying to use a screw driver first then a screw remover type device the rest of the plastic kid of just chipped away and flaked off. So instead of neing able to remove the remaining piece of the plug I'm left with the female part of the plug full of plastic and I don't think I'll ne able to remove it without removing the small elbow the connects to the bottom of the manifold (drain plug kit that hose and drain plug attach to) on a 5.7L mercruiser, 95 shabah 202. How difficult is it to remove this piece so I can get a better look at it. Will it come out easy? I don't want to do any damage.

[300sflyer]

I would drill a hole in the plastic piece thats stuck in there, and then use an "easy-out" to remove it.

[Javier Hernandez]

Thanks for the reply, but I tried that and the plastic just broke away so no there is just a smooth surface inside the female part where the grooves are supposed to be now. A friend of mine suggested carefully heating it with a torch to soften or melt the plastic then clean it out with a wire brush or battery terminal brush. However, I don't feel too comfortable taking a torch into the engine compartment, but I imagine this would work fairly easily.