Block drain

[eric wissing]

I am pulling off my manifolds so I can address the manifold heat control. The manual sure comes in handy because locating the block drain was hard. I attemped to turned it counter clockwise which didn't seem to help. I tried clockwise and it came out? Nothing seemed to drain from there. I forged ahead and I did get some fluids out of the manifold when I undid the bolts. Which is the plug suppose to turn?

I was lucky no broken studs. Two of the bolts the hold the manifolds together snapped off and I cut off the exhaust pipe since those bolts were frozen and it seemed easier than putting heat to it. I think I am going to cap off the opening between the two manifolds. I would hate to get it loose and have to go through this again. It actually wasn't too bad considering I have never done it before. Eric

[greg g]

Eric, it is common for the petcock to come out of the block. I assume you're talking about the one on the distributor side of the block. Make a tool out of a flexible piece or wire and run it into the petcock hole and to each side as far as you can. It is not uncommon for these passages to get filled up with rust scale, You can also give it a blast from your compressor blow gun, turn down the pressure to about 10 to 15 lbs at the out let, and give her a couple of toots. While you have stuff apart it might be a good time to bacl flush the block with the garden hose.

[eric wissing]

Greg, Thanks, didn't think of that(the rust and scale). I have a little spring coil tool that is for cleaning or deliming my Bunn Coffee maker. I will try that. Good idea about back flushing thanks.

[greg g]

That spring should be just the thing. Is that what they refer to as the delining tool??? You might want toe share that with the group, what is the source???

[eric wissing]

Mine came with my Bunn coffee maker, it is a little less than a 1/4" in diameter at its widest. It is made of a closely bound spring with a tapered end. I will try to get a picture of it tomorrow. I will also try it out on my car first. It might add a bit of extra flavor to java. Eric

[grey beard]

While you're into the job, and if you find a lot of sludge present at the petcock opening - just screw the whole thing out of the block - you may want to consider removing the generator and oil filter, and knockiing out the block core plugs on the drivers' side Then you can fish around with a piece of wire and get ALL the dirt out of the water jacket. Since that side is the lowest portion of the water jacket inside the block, this is where all the crud settles. Your engine will thank you for it, in the long run. I did mine when the water pump and water distribuion tube were also out, and could blast air everywhere inside the water jacket. Then I flushed it out with clean water before reassembly. JMHO:p

[Merle Coggins]

Bunn coffee maker cleaning too.

[Reg Evans]

Here's what you'll be fishing for. I'll have to second Grey Beards motion to remove the freeze plugs.

[Dennis Hemingway]

I go along what they said about removing the freeze plugs. You can see by my feet what came out of my engine when we removed a freeze plug. there was a lot more when we put a power washer in the hole.

Dennis

[40phil41]

Sample of what came out of mine!

Phil

[Don Coatney]

[quote=eric wissing; Which way is the plug suppose to turn?

Eric

Eric;

The petcock valve (shown just to the left of the distributor in the picture below) should open counterclockwise and close clockwise. The petcock itself screws into the block clockwise and to remove it from the block turn it counterclockwise. Not sure why yours worked opposite??

[eric wissing]

I wish my engine was as clean as yours. I will pull it again and look at the threads. Replacing it seems to be a good idea. Thanks, Eric

[BobT-47P15]

That coffee pot cleaner looks a lot like a spring that closes your screen door. Perhaps one of those springs would work in the same manner. They're fairly stout and also flexible.

[Reg Evans]

This is what I found behind one of my freeze plugs after some poking, prodding, and continued flushing.

Not a great pic, but this T was metal.

Musta been a Truck engine originally