need help draining radiator on a '74
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 26,563
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From: Northridge California
St. Jude Donor '14
need help draining radiator on a '74
i am in the process of gutting the cooling system on my '74 vette...the core support is rotted out so it needs to be replaced...radiator is also leaking and looks to be in bad shape. i removed the drain bolt on the drivers side of the block underneath the spark plug wire heat shield. i didn't see a drain plug on the other side of the block. i removed the radiator cap...it just dribbles radiator fluid...why isn't it pouring out?
'74 L-48 4 speed coupe
'74 L-48 4 speed coupe
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 502
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From: Georgia
Re: need help draining radiator on a '74 (eleven79)
The block's got a drain plug on both sides. There should also be a drain fowl or either a pipe plug in the bottom of the radiator. If you're just trying to get the fluid out so it doesn't make a mess when you take the lower hose off you could also syphon it out by running a small hose all the way down the tank side under the cap. If you fill the hose with water before inserting it and hold your finger over the end that's not being inserted it will start the flow without having to suck on the hose. Make sure the hose is longe enough to extend below the bottom of the radiator on the outside after it's all the way in or the flow will stop when the level reaches the end of the hose on the outside. Don't forget that antifreeze is extremely toxic to both people and animals and cats and dogs like the sweet taste. The resulting poisoning is a slow, painfull death to an animal and virtually untreatable.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,738
Likes: 53
From: Bogart GA
Re: need help draining radiator on a '74 (eleven79)
Just syphon it out of the radiator with one of those cheap plastic fuel syphons that you pump with you hand. I put an extention on the end and pump the rad dry in about 5 minutes....and no mess!!
