block coolant plug? where??

[77MidgetMkIV]

Hello all,

I am trying to drain the coolant in my 77 Midget (1500). The last time I did this, I did it with another person who was more knowledgable. My shop manual says to remove the cylinder block drain plug after disconnecting the lower hose. I have no idea where that is, and the engine diagrams in Moss are not too helpful either. I am trying to get my midget roadworthy, and this is the last thing to do before I take it out on an extended drive, hopefully tomorrow, since I am starting vacation tomorrow. Can anyone help?

thx in advance

 

[SilentUnicorn]

passenger side of the block about half way up and some what rearward IIRC large brass nut

Mark

 

[77MidgetMkIV]

so, probably down and to the rear from my carb? I'll run out and take a look see.

thx Mark-

markfitz

 

[SilentUnicorn]

and behind the exhaust

 

[jcatnite]

I could just touch it from under the hood of the car but nothing more than grazing it with my finger tips. If you look at where the fuel line comes into the engine compartment and follow it up you will find it on the block. It is a little brass bolt that has too many threads on it for my liking...lol
JC

 

[sparkydave]

It is a pain to get to. Removing the air filter housing helps, and a universal joint on the socket wrench helps too. From experience I can say to resist the urge to use an air ratchet to install it, or you might be replacing the fiber gasket (oops). I have also found that to really get as much of the old coolant out, I take a piece of 1/2" heater hose, which fits snugly in the filler hole in the thermostat housing, and once the drain plug is removed, I just blow in the heater hose and get more of it out. Good luck!

-Dave

 

[77MidgetMkIV]

we have lift-off! The plug was right where it was described to be, and I was able to drain the block successfully, after trading a little knuckle skin....I got back from Canada (not in the MG) Sunday night, and have all this week to drive while on vacation- New brakes are performing great, though they are going to need another bleeding. New front springs are great too, and the new fuel tank installation seems to be functioning properly. I've put 50 miles of "test" driving on it, and it ran great, though I seem to have developed a short or broken connection in my electrical system, as my electric gauges (tach, fuel) and turn signals were intermittent yesterday, and completely non-functional today. So I now have to track that down prior to getting an inspection sticker.