[DeTomaso] Coolant drain
JDeRyke at aol.com
JDeRyke at aol.com
Tue Sep 11 23:43:58 EDT 2012
In a message dated 9/10/12 5:25:34 PM, fisher95020 at yahoo.com writes:
> I have not yet found a satisfactory way to drain the coolant on my car. I
> have a Fluidyne rad and if you open the drain cock it will run all down
> the front bodywork and make a large mess and take a long time.
>
On our Pantera with a Fluidyne rad, I removed the lower left rad drain
(1/4-pipe thread) and added a straight pipe-to-AN-4 fitting to take a stainless
steel line about 6" long. The line makes a 120 degree bend and winds up
right against the backside of the radiator crossmember sheet metal, held there
with a small strap-bracket. At the end of the ss line is a commercial drain
valve. It is accessible from outside the car without jacking or turning the
wheels, if you know where to reach but is invisible from the outside. The
valve's end hangs down 1/4" below the sheet metal but that is far from the
lowest part of the chassis right there..... Coolant drains without touching any
part of the car. The rate at which coolant drains from a rad is vastly
increased by opening the UPPER rad air bleed valve and the rad cap, so air can be
drawn in as coolant exits from the bottom drain.
You can weld or braze a boss on the side of one of the the big coolant
lines, drill & tap it for 1/4-pipe, & add a radiator drain valve. This will
drain most of the engine coolant without the valve hanging down. Obviously you
won't be able to drain it all from a valve in the side of the pipe, but you
seldom need to drain 100%. Also obviously, you will have to jack up the
rear somewhat to access an engine drain like this.
Some guys remove the lower block plugs in the sides and add special
radiator drains with poly hoses shoved on the drain valve's brass ends. This would
also work directly as a lower left rad drain. The hoses are trimmed to reach
just below the oil pan so no draining coolant touches the pan, and can be
tucked away when not in use. Again, you'll need to jack the rear end up for
valve(s) access. If I remember, one plug is above the starter, the other is
in a matching place on the left side of the block near the left motor mount.
Good luck- J Deryke
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