Okay, here's the deal. I am trying to drain the rad, and I think I am going to strip the heck out of the drain plug if I keep trying at it. my wrench fits perfectly, so that's not the deal. it just starts to round it off every time i start to apply pressure.
Any suggestions?

Here is a pic. The radiator is not stock. It is a fluidyne i believe.

 

Do not remove the plug. You need to turn the wing nut. The wing nut goes into the radiator plug to let the coolant out. It looks like you need to turn it counter clockwise. The plug itself probably has left handed threads.

 

those come on the fluidyne? I sell those drain ***** at the part store I work at.

 

Yep!

 

I tried turning the wingnut and all it does is spin both directions freely.

I am on the verge of just taking off the lower rad hose and draining the system the hard way.

 

That radiator is the most bad looking one that I have ever seen! Please replace it.

 

Yeah it is actually looking not so good. I have the same one. The wingnut is the answer. Are you sure there fluid in the radiator(sorry)? If there is and the wingnut isnt doing anything youre gonna have to take that bung out.

If the wrench is rounding it either switch to metric/standard or get a nicer wrench(if its square). If youre using a hex wrench youre screwed but your radiator could probably retire anyways so buy a new one!

 

Ahem, It looks like corrosion, but it just wipes off. I am taking everything our of the engine bay, cleaning it up, replacing lots of stuff, and reassembling.

This car used to be a daily driver for the person I bought it from. it's an aftermarket rad, so it started off nice and shiny, and every little bit of dirt will show.

Also, I'll replace it when I go V-Mount.

Anyways, any other suggestions on what I should do? That wing nut just spins freely, so I am wondering if i may have to just do it the hard (messy) way.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Simple...Take a flat punch, say 1/4" round. Tap on the flats of the fitting all the way around it. You ar trying to break the bond between the fitting and the threads holding it. Then use a small vise grip and carefully trun it out. Install a proper size pipe plug in it place. Those petcock drain are not worth **** !

tom

 

Awesome! Thanks a bunch!

 

or as a general rule dont *** with drain plugs. especially plastic ones. the time you have spent the lower hose would be off and back on already

 

I told you earlier that the threads are left handed. Was I wasting my time? To remove the drain plug, you need to turn it the opposite direction.

 

Not wasting your time. I just don't understand why the wing nut just spins freely.

I will try the whole left hand thread idea soon.

 

adam c is the voice of experience here.

And I agree with those saying those petcocks are useless. They will either lock-up solid and not turn or just spin freely as the little 'wing' is only press-fit on the shaft usually and ANY resistance it encounters results in free spinning without opening the petcock drain.

A brass plug works best....though getting to them can be bitch, or you can get an industrial brass and nylon ball valve with a 1/4 turn **** on it.

 

Where could i source one of these?

 

when you go v mount do you have to get a whole new radiator to fit or does the fluidyne work?? because thats what i got