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Dewitts Radiator Installed - Almost

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Old Oct 10, 2013 | 04:34 PM
  #1  
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From: Laquey Missouri
Default Dewitts Radiator Installed - Almost

Dewitts Direct Fit Radiator with dual fans is installed - Almost. Pretty straight forward and took 3 plus hours, and believe me, I'm a novice trying to figure out electric thingy's. Ready to put in anti-freeze and noticed there's no drain plug. The one off the old radiator won't fit. What's everyone using or what should I ask for at the parts store? I would have thought for the price of this thing is would have had one. Car is a 76 late.
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Old Oct 10, 2013 | 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by 76Vett
Dewitts Direct Fit Radiator with dual fans is installed - Almost. Pretty straight forward and took 3 plus hours, and believe me, I'm a novice trying to figure out electric thingy's. Ready to put in anti-freeze and noticed there's no drain plug. The one off the old radiator won't fit. What's everyone using or what should I ask for at the parts store? I would have thought for the price of this thing is would have had one. Car is a 76 late.
Give Dewitts a call.

I have a Dewitts rad in my 77 with the dual fans and there is a drain petcock on the passenger side at the bottom of the rad.

The orientation of the petcock is a bit off as it interferes with the rad mounting frame and thus currently I would have to drain the rad through the lower rad hose, but the petcock is there.

The next time I drain the rad I will install a 45 degree street elbow and then attached the drain petcock to it.

That will make the drain petcock easily accessible and there will be no interference with the rad mounting frame.

Hope that helps!
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Old Oct 10, 2013 | 06:29 PM
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Originally Posted by 76Vett
Dewitts Direct Fit Radiator with dual fans is installed - Almost. Pretty straight forward and took 3 plus hours, and believe me, I'm a novice trying to figure out electric thingy's. Ready to put in anti-freeze and noticed there's no drain plug. The one off the old radiator won't fit. What's everyone using or what should I ask for at the parts store? I would have thought for the price of this thing is would have had one. Car is a 76 late.
Sometimes we put the drain valve in the filler box, which is inside the main box. We do this because UPS can drop the box off a shipping dock and smash the drain rignt into the tank. If my guy forgot to include one, just send christyn@dewitts.com a note and we'll be happy to ship you one. The port thread is a standard 1/4" NPT, so if you have a plug around you can stick that in there as a temporary fix.
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Old Oct 10, 2013 | 06:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom DeWitt
Sometimes we put the drain valve in the filler box, which is inside the main box. We do this because UPS can drop the box off a shipping dock and smash the drain rignt into the tank. If my guy forgot to include one, just send christyn@dewitts.com a note and we'll be happy to ship you one. The port thread is a standard 1/4" NPT, so if you have a plug around you can stick that in there as a temporary fix.
That's what you call support for you customers!
I don't own one of your radiators but if I need one, you'll be the first on my list!
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Old Oct 10, 2013 | 07:44 PM
  #5  
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From: Laquey Missouri
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Thanks Mr. Dewitt - $1.25 from NAPA and problem solved. Quality product, easy install - I'm looking forward to many years of trouble free use from this radiator. Yep - Dewitts is a class act.
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Old Oct 10, 2013 | 07:53 PM
  #6  
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If only all vendors were that good.........
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Old Oct 10, 2013 | 07:57 PM
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I've had a Dewitts for many years with zero problems. They helped me prevent an ordering mistake when I bought it and I always assumed they would back up their quality product with good customer service. I may go ahead and buy dual fans just to support them further although my car runs cool without them.
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Old Oct 10, 2013 | 08:04 PM
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From: Winston Ga.
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Originally Posted by donyue

The orientation of the petcock is a bit off as it interferes with the rad mounting frame and thus currently I would have to drain the rad through the lower rad hose, but the petcock is there.

The next time I drain the rad I will install a 45 degree street elbow and then attached the drain petcock to it.

That will make the drain petcock easily accessible and there will be no interference with the rad mounting frame.
I had the same issue, I may have to go with the elbow too, good idea.

It was my only issue with the rad.

cools great.
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Old Oct 11, 2013 | 12:12 AM
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Originally Posted by jnealg
I had the same issue, I may have to go with the elbow too, good idea.

It was my only issue with the rad.

cools great.
Same problem with my install,,,the elbow solved the problem..frustrating at first
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