Location of freeze plugs on 1998 crown victoria

Yes, you have to pull the transmission. But look it over closely. Most likely the coolant is coming from somewhere else. I have never seen or replaced a bad freeze plug back there. Water can't get to them to rust them out from the outside in. Only if you use water only to cool the engine. Heater hoses and the intake manifold gaskets can cause a leak in this area.

It sure sounds like the heater core, especially if you have water leaking inside the cabin. The two heater hoses only go from the engine to the firewall, and do not go into or through the firewall. They connect to the heater core right at the firewall.
Check carefully around the back side of the engine and the heater hoses, though. If a freeze plug is leaking, water will be dripping off the bottom of the engine. If it is leaking before the firewall, that would not be the heater core.

Notorious for intake leaks, the composite plastic intakes crack and leak coolant-as to the lack of power, you mght have overheated it and done some damage to the engine. There was a recall (information below) for the 4.6 for the intake-the overheating and lack of power means you should at least have compression checked and go from there-you may have bad head gaskets or worse. Do a compression test before you do anything else.

Ford Motor Company will extend the recall (01M02) on 4.6L V8 equipped vehicles with plastic intake manifolds. Some of the composite intake manifolds used on 4.6L SOHC engines may develop fatigue cracks at the coolant crossover duct. This condition could result in engine coolant leakage which, if not serviced, may cause engine overheating. Complete loss of coolant may result in engine damage or engine failure.
The updated recall now includes:
• Certain 1996 through 2001 Model Year Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
• Certain 1998 through 2001 Model Year Crown Victoria with Taxi
• Certain 1998 through 2001 Lincoln Town Car Limousine and Livery Prep Package
• Certain 1996-2001 Crown Victoria Taxis, Police cars and Lincoln Town Car Limousine and Livery cars.
• Certain 1996 through 1997 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor Vehicles with 4.6L SOHC engines built at the St. Thomas Assembly Plant from the beginning of production for the 1996 Model Year through January 28, 1997.
• Certain 1998 through 2001 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor Vehicles with 4.6L SOHC engines built at the St. Thomas Assembly Plant from November 22, 1997 through December 15, 2000.
• Certain 1998 through 2001 Crown Victoria Taxi Vehicles with 4.6L SOHC engines built at the St. Thomas Assembly Plant from November 22, 1997 through December 15, 2000.
• Certain 1998 through 2001 Lincoln Town Car Limousine Prep Package and Livery Vehicles with 4.6L SOHC engines built at the Wixom Assembly Plant from November 22, 1997 through December 15, 2000.

The spark plugs are on top of the enging under the plug wire boots,which are sometimes coloured orange

There are core plugs all over the engine, where is it leaking?

they are coil on plug.there is a coil for each plug,and they are underneath the valve covers.the platinum tip plugs are changed every 160000 kilometers.

Will be coming from either bad freeze plug(s) [most likely], a heater hose that is dripping so that it is running off the back side of the engine, or a leaking intake manifold that is located such that it is running off the back side.

theyre located on the sides of the block, about the size of a silver dollar, pop the old ones out with a screw driver, install new with a soft rubber malet. drain eng. coolant first though as you will leak antifreeze once plugs are removed

Well, yes, the leak that you describe could from any of those areas, but not likely the heater core. Heater core leaks totally fog out windshield...

More likely causes are cracked coolant hoses, take a mirror and look around. If you do not find the leak, you need to add pressure, it should show up...

Is the water pump now leaking? There are other components that may have been damaged. The freeze out plugs in the engine block are designed to pop out if the coolant is not sufficient and freezes. This is to save the engine block from cracking, which may have happened. U need to get the car in a heated garage, fill system w/ water, check for leaks, and get the car running to again check for further leaks or problems. The radiator/heater core may also have been damaged. Only way to find out is to thaw it out and check it over carefully for leaks. Let me know how u make out.