Freeze plugs are installed!

Go figure... I learned that freeze plugs are actually not freeze plugs at all! They are actually covers for holes that exist on both sides of the block. These holes are used to remove sand or other "padding" material that is used during the casting process when the block is manufactured.

The plugs are actually WAY too tight for them to pop out if the coolant actually ever freezes. Supposedly, there have been hundreds of cases where the block has cracked from the force exerted by the coolant expanding when it froze, while the so-called "freeze plugs" remained firmly installed. Live and learn...

Oh and the obvious: I got the not-freeze-plugs successfully installed!

Next lesson: seals!!