> From: feickert [mailto:feickert@alltel.net]
> Sent: June 8, 2000 10:58 AM
>
> I have a '75 TR6 which doesn't appear to have a drain plug on
> the radiator. Is this common? I had to drain the fluid by removing
> the lower radiator hose.
Carl,
I think the later cars did not have drain taps on the radiators from the
factory. While you have it empty is a great time to remove it from the car
and have a drain tap installed by a radiator shop. Shouldn't cost too much
to have this done. It will make draining the next time:
1. much easier -- you won't have to remove the bottom hose, and
2. less messy -- you will be able to attach a hose to the nipple on the
drain tap (make sure the kind of tap which actually has a nipple on it) and
drain the fluid into a suitable container without messin' up your frame.
Assuming you are draining all the coolant (ie. from the engine block as well
as the rad), you might consider replacing the brass plug in the block with a
drain tap as well. You will realize the same benefits as above. However,
replacing this plug with a drain tap might not be as easy -- it uses a much
less common thread than the typical 1/8-27 NPT drain taps for radiators.
Bring the plug to the shop and see if they have a drain tap for it. Note:
the thread on this plug is not a pipe thread (ie. it's not tapered, but
rather a parallel thread, meaning you need a washer to provide the seal).
Good luck!
Peter Zaborski -- CF58310 UO
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