1972 c10 Draining Radiator

[Mike_The_Grad]

Hey everyone,
I'm wondering if any of you guys have come up with a good way to drain the radiator without making a huge mess everywhere. I recently installed a Northen Radiator 4 row copper/brass radiator in my 72. Its an awesome radiator, feels heavy duty. Nice gloss black paint. Dropped right into place and all of the ports line up where they are supposed to. The only complaint I have is that it sprung a super tiny leak where the upper transmission cooler line connects to the radiator. Yes it's a small leak, but a leak nonetheless. Repairs are covered under warranty. Downside is it has to come out of the truck.
Anyways, I'm currently using a homemade funnel wrapped up from a 12-pack cardboard box. The radiator has one of those plastic wing nut type drain plugs in it. I was considering piping in a 90 with a small drain valve aimed down in between the drivers side bumper bracket, inner fender, and power steering gear. I dont anticipate having to do this again. But that's what I said when I put the new radiator in about a month ago.

Let me know your thoughts or what you guys have constructed to accomplish this less than pleasant task.

[truckster]

Is it the type of plug that just has a slot in the threads? I hate those.

[Stocker]

Mine has a metal wing-nut petcock similar to this one. I bought a few feet of clear plastic tubing (Ace Hardware) to slip over the round part of the petcock, then drain it into a pan.

[Jim Boy]

I have the same and I use the overflow rubber hose. Fits perfectly and long enough to go through the brackets and frame and into a pail. No spillage and always with you. Have a good one eh!

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Mine has a metal wing-nut petcock similar to this one. I bought a few feet of clear plastic tubing (Ace Hardware) to slip over the round part of the petcock, then drain it into a pan.

I have one of those and the insolent little bugger is stripped! The wings just turn on it.

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

I have one of those and the insolent little bugger is stripped! The wings just turn on it.

I would try soldering it.

[Mike_The_Grad]

Truckster, no. It's not the type with the slotted threads. It's a plastic threaded plug with a rubber shoulder molded into it. It doesn't leak and seems to be a better design than those other type of plugs.

Stocker, I'm gonna have to look into getting one of those. My old champion radiator had something similar to that one in the pic you posted except it didnt have a spot for a tube to fit over it. When I got rid of that champion radiator I took the brass valve off and ended up installing it in the engine block on the drivers side to make draining the block easier. I'm glad I put one like that in the block, made swapping heads a little easier and quicker.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

I would try soldering it.

That's a goof idea. I'll do that next time the radiator is out. Getting to the thing to remove it isn't going to be any fun while it's in the truck.

[OregonNed]

The last time I had to drain, I couldn't find a piece of hose to make it clean, so I improvised. My wife had a bunch of medical supplies from her last job so I grabbed a very large (ouch!) catheter to use as a hose. Worked great, but a plastic hose would have worked better..