I have a 1971 350 manual transmission no a/c car. I Would like to drain the radiator but can't find a drain plug. It is an original aluminum radiator with expansion tank. Am I overlooking the drain plug? I guess I could disconnect the lower radiator hose to drain it. Thanks for the help

 

Don't know if it is the same as my 75 but that was in the lower right hand corner, forget if it was on the engine side or the very bottom of the radiator.

 

try looking as suggested on bottom end of right side tank. It may be a plug not a drain ****. In either case holding the block that the drain ****/plug is attached to while trying to open the drain ****/plug is suggested to prevent ripping the block from the radiator.

 

Draining the radiator will also drain roughly half the block. What's the purpose behind this? Not saying it's a bad thing but I might suggest you go even further and drain and flush the heater core and drain and flush the block. It's very good maintenance and you're already going to be half way there. If you can't find a drain in the radiator you simply have to disconnect the lower radiator hose and let the fluid drain into a catch pan. You'll want to remove the radiator cap too.

 

As said above already, there should be a drain **** or a plug on the passenger side lower bottom corner of the radiator. Have something large to catch the coolant and drain out as much as you can. Leave the drain **** open and the radiator cap off. What I like to do to flush the whole system is have the car outside in the driveway and after it's drained, as best I can, is insert the garden hose into the top of the radiator and let it flow through for a bit then start the car and turn the heater up on high this should flush the radiator, engine block, and the heater core. Run it for about 10 to 15 mins and get the car up to normal temps.... usually wont get that high but still. Then turn off the water and let it drip dry again. Close the drain and fill with your choice of coolant. Restart the car and refill the radiator as the level goes down. Keep the cap off and continue to let the car run and get all the air out of the rest of the system and then top off again. I get my coolant level to just about an inch from the top and then cap it off. Since you have a 4 spd with A/c you probably don't have a recovery tank and just have a puke tube so dont overfill the radiator b/c when closed up and hot the coolant will need room to expand. If you get it too full you will have a puddle on the floor and then freak out that you now have a coolant leak somewhere.

HTH,

Sully

 

It's an easy two part procedure. 1. Remove rad cap. 2. turn car over to drain rad.

 

If you can't find a draincock, you can always loosen the bottom radiator hose.


Keep the shiny side up!
Scott

 

That's how I've always done it

 

Another option that I use is a drill pump with a hose down the radiator to remove most of the coolant so when the bottom hose is removed the mess is minor.

 

Holy crap, I never even thought of that.......and I have a drill pump!!!! Oustanding!!!


Keep the shiny side up!
Scott