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So, what's the trick...

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S

SaxMan

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...in being able to drain the radiator without sending antifreeze everywhere. I went to change out my thermostat last night and figured it would be a good time to put some fresh antifreeze into the system. Most radiator's I've dealt with in the past had a drain petcock. I couldn't find one. I did find a bolt on the bottom that may have been a petcock, but it was inaccessible because of the fan shroud. I decided to drain it from the lower radiator hose and stick a bucket underneath, and I should be able to catch all the antifreeze, right? Wrong. "Baby Blue" had other plans for me and spat out a fair amount of antifreeze onto the garage floor. I caught about 1/2 the antifreeze with the bucket. The rest I had to clean up.

The thermostat gasket was stubborn to release, but I got the housing off and reassembled everything without incident. I was kind of surprised that I only used about a third of a gallon to replenish the antifreeze lost. I guess the rest was still in the engine and heater core?

There's definitely a learning curve when it comes to working on the Sprite, but luckily "Baby Blue" is very forgiving of my current ham-handed mechanics. When she doesn't forgive, there is always Victoria British :D
 
There is a drain plug on the block, below the rear carb, and very near the rear mounting plate. Early engines have a brass drain ****, but some just have a hex plug. It won't allow you to get all the fluid out, but would minimize how much you'd spill by removing the lower hose.
 
Gerard said:
There is a drain plug on the block, below the rear carb, and very near the rear mounting plate. Early engines have a brass drain ****, but some just have a hex plug. It won't allow you to get all the fluid out, but would minimize how much you'd spill by removing the lower hose.
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Ah, yes, the old "Put the Drain Plug on the Block" trick! I should have thought of that.

I need to keep repeating this mantra: "Everything you remember about working on your 1981 Chevrolet Malibu from 25 years ago? None of it is applicable on an LBC". Or, as Master Yoda would say. "You have to Unlearn, heh, Unlearn..."
 
hahaha... just noticed my message was censored... took me a sec to figure out why :confused: , but it was because I used "c*ck", instead of "plug"... LMAO!!!

Will I be banished... :confused:
 
I giggled about that as well.

I siphon my antifreeze from the radiator. It is a bit slow, but MUCH neater.
 
Gerard said:
hahaha... just noticed my message was censored... took me a sec to figure out why :confused: , but it was because I used "c*ck", instead of "plug"... LMAO!!!

Will I be banished... :confused:
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That all depends on who you were talking to, Bro...
2006-08-17_13h52m24.jpg

 
I had a petcock installed on my rad. The only thing I should have done - for access - have it installed on the front not the back.
 
JPSmit said:
I had a petcock installed on my rad. The only thing I should have done - for access - have it installed on the front not the back.
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Hmmm... now that didn't turn into petrock. :wink-new:
 
Boink said:
Hmmm... now that didn't turn into petrock. :wink-new:
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Sheesh everyone knows when the preacher uses them words - H*ll, D*mn, God, Jesus, he ain't swearing, he's jus' tellin' it like it is - even the computer figures that out :angel:
 
I'm with Trev....side tank rads can be siphoned almost empty.

Kurt
 
I took the Sprite out to test it this morning, all bundled up with my daughter in tow. I cheered as the temperature gauge continued to move up towards the "N" range, but then became alarmed as it continued well past the N. I immediately made a turn for home, despite my daughter's very loud protests and my apparent insufficient explanation that Baby Blue was sick and had to go back to bed. It ended up bouncing up and down off the H. I quickly threw the heater on and basically coasted most of the way back home to keep the temps in check.

At first I thought the new thermostat might have been stuck closed. After letting the car cool down for a few minutes, I opened the radiator cap. I had also suspected that because the new thermostat was "closed" on installation that once it opened my antifreeze level would plunge and this turned out to be the case. Once I refilled the reservoir, I fired the car up again and the temperature needle settled squarely on the "N". Phew!
 
A second test drive basically put me back where I started, with the needle maybe 1/4" to 1/2" over the low end on 45 to 50 degree day. I guess at this point, it's "don't fix what ain't broke". The car seems to be running fine and it's not overheating. Off to the next item on the to-do list!
 
Hi it's a good time to look at the heater rad and put lots cold water with a hose on one side of the rad to get it run faster you hope
and do have a good look at the seals on the heater rad, I have all the parts in stock as I make all the heater parts for Austin Healey Sprite, And MG Midget
Regards Ashley Hinton
394018_245699848842338_1111912550_n.jpg
 
Ashley Hinton MG parts said:
Hi it's a good time to look at the heater rad and put lots cold water with a hose on one side of the rad to get it run faster you hope
and do have a good look at the seals on the heater rad, I have all the parts in stock as I make all the heater parts for Austin Healey Sprite, And MG Midget
Regards Ashley Hinton
View attachment 29772
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Hello,
How would I go about viewing the items you have for sale?
 
Nice to have Ashley Hinton chiming in on BCF. They have a good name.

Kurt
 
You can go to their WebSite in the UK but typically they do not sell direct. He often will offer overstock via E-Bay buy contact info is on his WebSite.
 
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