When I took engine out for body work on 56 Ford, I did some cleanup. It will be awhile before I remove it again for rebuild. Meanwhile I want it to be functional and look good. I removed a drain plug (the ones with ears that drain radiator fluid when you open them). The one on the drivers side by the road draft tube came out but there was no hole into the block. It appears this original block (ECG) had only one drain valve on the passenger side. It appears the drivers side had a frost plug, but a very deep frost plug. It must have started weeping. Someone picked up another valve and threaded it into what ever is plugged into the original hole. It must have worked, until I came along and stepped in the middle of it.

So was it common do use a very deep frost plug (im guessing 5/8" deep) in place of a drain valve? Whatever it is is very thin and the fitting was not threaded that well into it. It may have stopped a leak if they used sealer on it, I never had it long enough to know if it was a problem. Kind of like pulling the cork out of the dam. So regardless...anyone have any ideas what this may be all about?