Radiator drain plug |
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ColinUK
New Member Joined: 11-July-2018 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 32 |
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Posted: 24-May-2020 at 12:45AM |
Hi all, I want to drain the rad in my 351C for a coolant change but the drain plug looks pretty old and is on nice and tight... are there any tricks for undoing these without damaging them? Just to be clear, I’m talking about these:
Any advice or should I just give it the beans with a spanner?
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ColinUK
71 Torino 351C squeezing through the British countryside |
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stanman
Senior Member Joined: 23-March-2007 Location: Nova Scotia, Ca Status: Offline Points: 1432 |
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Easier to disconnect the bottom rad hose IMO. Messing with that drain may lead to damaging the radiator. And nobody wants that!
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ColinUK
New Member Joined: 11-July-2018 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 32 |
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Thanks Stanman, that’s plan B - I just got annoyed I couldn’t shift that plug and wondered if I was overlooking some technique or whether mine was just way too tight.
I’m sure I’ll end up just disconnecting the hose and giving myself a nice coolant shower in the end...
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ColinUK
71 Torino 351C squeezing through the British countryside |
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Steve M.
Senior Member Joined: 08-June-2019 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 1740 |
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Yup. Plan B.
I was able to set up the catch basin underneath and work the hose from the side. Ended up replacing the hose. It was one of those "While I was there" decisions.
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Steve M.
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72FordGTS
Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 5802 |
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I use a small set of channel locks to loosen the rad petcock. They can grab it pretty easily without damaging it as long as it's not seized. However, if it is in rough shape, I do the lower rad hose method. If yours looks rough, the lower rad hose method might be a better option. If you are careful you can avoid the coolant shower. Otherwise you may end up having to replace it, or worse yet have to bring it to a rad shop to get fixed.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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Rockatansky
Senior Member Joined: 30-July-2010 Location: On The Road Status: Offline Points: 6059 |
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i'm not afraid to use a little heat from a propane torch, in this case there is a need to keep the flame directed away from and the temp below that of softening any solder nearby. a micro torch might work better than the standard traditional blaster brace the hex with a wrench and turn the petcock wings, using both of them with equal force, with a channel lock since it'll be warm
Edited by Rockatansky - 24-May-2020 at 11:38AM |
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72 GT Ute
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14606 |
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there's a chance it seems seized because they loosen the opposite direction yes i usually use pliers or small channel locks
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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ColinUK
New Member Joined: 11-July-2018 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 32 |
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nice one, thanks guys, I’ll have a crack at it tomorrow and let you know how I get on. Appreciate the advice.
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ColinUK
71 Torino 351C squeezing through the British countryside |
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Rockatansky
Senior Member Joined: 30-July-2010 Location: On The Road Status: Offline Points: 6059 |
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good catch V! i always have to think about which way to turn the darn thing being upside down, backwards and opposite rotation Yes the petcock in the pic above is open, screwed all the way inward clockwise as if to tighten. in the closed position you'll see the internal threads exposed between the wings and the hex of the fitting, clean those threads with a small brush and penetrant if possible before driving any corrosion inside to close it you'd turn the wings counter-clockwise as if to loosen.
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72 GT Ute
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