Screwed up my bleeder bolt---HELP!

I farged up the bloody bleeder bolt on my '95 Civic EX Coupe while doing a rad
flush. I think i overcranked it and stripped it. the bolt appears to be okay
but I cant tell about the threads in the housing in which it fits because the
coolant keeps seeping up. I've got a small rag jammed in the hole right now.

I was thinking of just getting a new bleeder bolt and some instant gasket stuff
or is this a big mistake?

Any better ideas??

Thanks in advance for the tips!

 

easier just to buy a new housing, likely it will come without the bleeder
bolt, which Honda stopped using with the 1996 models.

You could remove the housing, drill it out and plug it.

 

Isn't the bleeder bolt plastic? (It was on my nissan, i have
no idea on my civic, as i have never had to flush the rad)

t

 

A new bolt w/ Teflon tape would be the first thing to try. Or take it to a
machine shop and ask them to cut new threads.

 

UPDATE: I decided that it was easier (and cheaper) just to get the new housing
(small piece of metal at the end of the upper radiator hose bolted to the
engine block). Now the problem is I cant get one for at least another week
(backordered). So I got the idea of just sealing the hole where the bleeder
sits. The new part from Honda doesnt even contain a bleeder bolt so I dont see
anything wrong with just sealing up the bolt hole.

So the new question is: what's the best/easiest way to seal up the hole (while
the housing is still attached to the block)?

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

 

How to do it? Very carefully. Remember that the coolant is under
pressure when the engine is at normal operating temperature, so however
you plug the hole, it needs to withstand that pressure. I tend to be
somewhat conservative, so if it were my car I'd find a way to not use it
until the new housing arrives.