Water pooling around spark plugs!?!?

[AllenHenson]

Big issue or little issue??? Just rained last night. The starters at the shop so haven't tried turning it over...

[Joe Gopan]

Water pooling in the #4 Spark Plug Well is one of the idiosyncracies of the MB, M-38 and CJ Flat Head Jeeps. A factory Drain Trough 670345 was available as an Accessory and shared the 4 hood hinge mounting bolts. It was made for CJ-2A/CJ-3A Jeeps for this very purpose. It fit the MB, also.
Some of the parts dealers offer an excellent repro 670345.
It a little WD-40 wiped on the spark plug base will help prevent rusty spark plugs.

[dpcd67]

It must be either your first jeep with a flathead motor, or your first rainfall. Because it is one of the characteristics of them.

[JIMN]

If you are just going to leave it set there, then of course it will cause rust. But if you out driving it and a storm catches you let's say while you are parked, no big deal, the water will evaporate quickly with the heat of the engine on the way home.

[nick peters]

Hello Mate What the previous posters didn't tell you. This was a factory idea, to allow the driver to quickly check for air bubbles to know if the four plug were nipped up tight.
regards Nick

[Mark Jesic]

Another reason why i never take my jeep out in the rain, yes i am paranoid.

[dinof]

I treat my jeep like my other antique cars. Restored, and garage kept.

[tsmgguy]

I treat my jeep like my other antique cars. Restored, and garage kept.

...and, never wash it (but do keep it clean), no fording, nor deep sand and mud.

[dpcd67]

I go one step further; I never drive any of my jeeps; they just sit there and look pretty. I like to build them, but once you drive one, you have driven them all. So they never get wet.
I do drive my Dodges, like once a year.

[1943Willysgpw]

Sorry. I am the odd ball here. I figure I only live so long. I built it from a pile of crap and if I mess something up, I will fix it. Don't get me wrong, I would never intentionally abuse it. I did not spend all the time and money to have my kids sell it when I die.

[Jerry Hudgens]

I am with you 1943Willysgpw! I have driven my Jeep ever since I was around 12 years old (I am now 76 years old) on my paper route and through a whole bunch of river swamps in south Alabama. My dad put a winch on the front at one time to pull out of the mud holes that were so deep even front wheel drive would not get us out. I must have a million miles on my Jeep and I am sure the mud in the frame rails is as hard as bricks.
A lot of times we had to turn the Jeep around and back up a steep bank to get back onto the paved highway. We were afraid the Jeep would turn over on us.

Why own a Jeep if you just keep it in the garage?

I am really disappointed in dpcd67. Based on his posts in the past I figured he was one that really drove his Jeep a lot and thus figured out all of the excellent technical comments he has made in the past.

Anyway, to each his own. As for me, I intend to keep on trucking with my Jeep (although right now its not "trucking" at all since its up in Alabama and I am in Florida) plus I have the back end out of it.

Jerry Hudgens

[dpcd67]

I know, it's sad. But we really have no good places to drive them here anyway; driving on the hard road is not what they were made for. At the Power Wagon Rally they have good trail rides, but not for jeeps. So I build and restore them, drive them for a couple of weeks, store them, and move on to the next project.

[dinof]

I like my cars as clean underneath as on top. A habit I love to have. With the jeep, I get a kick when people look at it and say you can eat off the motor

[Mark 1]

I'm with the "dirty" brigade, the Jeeps are such capable off roaders you spit and shine boys don't know what your missing
Here is a small YT clip of mine in its element, this was a timid part https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-TwqoB4Gks

IMO if I see a Jeep in better than new condition it does nothing for me, much rather see one that's been used with some sensible wear and tear.

Back to water around the plugs, I frequently give all the electrical parts a good dosing of WD40, which also cleans up the engine bay nicely, as has been said, with the motor running it will soon steam off the water. I always copper slip the spark plug threads when fitting in every vehicle I have owned, never had a problem removing plugs, albeit they have not been left in for years !

Cheers

[Mark Jesic]

Mark, i change my plugs every 2 years, as points ,condenser, rotor arm etc. The oil is changed every year, plus it has a good session with the grease gun.