What size freeze plug goes in the front of a 1996 3.8 non turbo head. I was given one that was 1"18 and it was to big. cant find it anywhere

Howdy Miles Truex,

It'd be nicer had you IDENTIFIED your make, model and year

The 3.8 non-turbo isn't particularly intuitive... but hey...
Why bother giving free volunteers a break...

So... What you need to do... is look it up yourself.

Lets say (just for yuks) ... yours is a
popular USA market vehicle.

You can go up on ROCKAUTO and look up the entire engine's collection of "SOFT-PLUGS"... aka... "FREEZE PLUGS".

RockAuto Parts Catalog

Carnac the Magnificent

old post.
This is really a suzuki G16 engine question
thats ok,
The G16s are used on Suzuki's and Trackers
Vitara's , Esteems, no others world wide.

I have all the photos and books on those cars.
real books and all parts lists. on them , graphics tool.
the freeze plugs (core plugs on all over.)
IN 1996 only one engine, G16b.
But all G16 blocks these are the same.
sides on all G16 base blocks.
2 left side 1 above filter, one just to rear of that, they are huge.
have to be blind to miss left side, (left means same as left car door)

the problem here is there are 2 engines in 1995, then one in 1996
the heads on both engine are NOT THE SAME>
the head is 8v and 16valves heads
and the 16v has freeze plugs in the top ,next to the cam. inside under valve cover !!!.

why not say where the leak is so we can narrow the search. or state the JOB?????????

i have photos of all parts in any G16.
there are no freeze plug in any 8valve head.
but the 16v yes !!!
the 16v head small inside plugs, if leaking turn the engine oil to milk chocolate fast and worse of driven. (just undid worst)

the blocks are the same, both engines, not pistons,
there are no front or rear engine block freeze plugs only side plugs 4 total.
and sure the right side under intake man will be hard to see. look under car right side to see em.
2 left easy to see and 2 right harder.
the right engine block has 2 freeze plugs one in easy view center , under intake man.
and one tucked behind that water manifold that can leak too.
now the last plugs
the 16valve head has a front freeze plug behind the cam cog wheel. and none on the rear of the head.
so 1 front and 3 inside, top.
My guess, G16b has 8 plugs total.
G16a has 4.

things that go POP in the night (cold night)
the rear water outlet fitting (head) does explode every time one runs this head on pure water, frozen, ask my how I know that, and what clueless girl did that,, heheheheheheheheh

If you have the 4-Cylinder Non-Turbo, or 420a engine, here is the overhaul manual for it, including the complete timing instructions: http://www.mediafire.com/?7j2zosdmnnl

If you have the 4-Cylinder Turbo, or 4G63 engine, here is the manual for it, including timing instructions: http://www.mediafire.com/?zhnttihoqye

there are 4 10mm bolts at the back between the manifold pipes an 2 at the front

Without knowing what year or engine size is, I/m just guessing??????? But the 3.1L engines are FAMOUS for intake maniflod gaskets leaking. Look where the intake bolts to the heads. A freeze plug is in the block. Freeze plugs dont leak unless you have been running pure water or weak/cheap anti-freeze. They will rust out from behind and its BIG BUCKS to replace them all.

if you cant see the filter then it is in the trans and non-serviceable the drain plug is on the bottom front pass side it is a big bolt head

oops sounds like you had the cam in the wrong place and bent a valve or two unless u mixed the cam caps and have them in the wrong spot that will bind the cam and lock it down by the way that is a dodge engine same as a neon

no it cant be used sorry

Yes the heads are interchangable. Best way to find out if stuff is interchangable is to go to Toyota dealer and compare part #'s

Have you tried http://alldatadiy.com/. They will sell you a 1 year subscription for under 30.00.