Ok, Ok, I know this is a basic newbie question, and I will admit I am possibly beyond in maintenance with this.  But, one thing I love about this site is that you can ask without ridicule.
   Decided that it was time to change the coolant, and put on new radiator hoses.  I'm not having trouble, just gonna go for a long drive and don't want any either.
    Just got through crawling around under there (the 74 bone stock one), and can not find the drain plug for the rad.  Narrowed it down to one of 3 possiblitys.
1.  I don't know where to look.
2.  Bubba swapped out the radiator
3   Chevy intended for us to drain by removing the lower hose?
   So, dear experts out there, which one is it?  Did they intend for that?

Also, while playing around down there, I noticed a gap (about 1/4") between the lower fan shroud and the bottom of the radiator.  Could that become an issue/should I replace it, or is it normal? Thanks all, dave.


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Lifetime Member #36

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I don't think the 1/4" gap is a problem.  Should be a petcock on the lower right corner of the rad, but I'm not a 74 expert.  Shoot, if you are going to replace the hoses, just cut the lower hose and after it has drained and you have removed the hose, you might then find the petcock.  That's what usually happens to me.

Use distilled water with the new antifreeze when you replace.


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Iirc, there is no petcock on it...there IS a drainplug on the pass side FRONT of the raditater, down low...

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Well, Bubba do dided up my radiator.  Down low on the passanger side, where there is most likely a bold somewhere, there is a hugh gob of epoxy.  I have only driven about 10,000 miles over the years I have owned this, but have not had any problems so for this trip, I will go ahead and leave it for now.    Some spring, I will be replacing/reworking my radiator .    Sometimes I wish these cars cost more, so that Bubba wouldn't work on them so much.  .   Joel, thanks for the tip on where to look for it, and Gary, I would have never thought of the distilled water, picked it up today.   How, where as I only get to spend about minimal mileage my baby, and considering that i live in Phoenix (no winters!), how often should I be changing the coolant?


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Lifetime Member #36

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I remember because when I went to drain mine to change the water pump, mine just had a drain plug in it....that prompty twisted OFF the bung in the rad tank.....

|UPDATED|10/16/2013 6:57:10 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

The distilled water is what Tom DeWitt told me to use.  That's after my LT-1 intake rotted out from the inside.  Water and aluminum don't like each other.

As far as how long, antifreeze and distilled water are cheap, so I'd change it every other year.


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on my 76 there was a petcock that was so damaged that it would not turn.  Passenger side, bottom of rad. just beside hose and somewhat lower. I had to crawl under to see it. As for the shroud gap, I had the org. shroud and rad., and there were foam spacers all around the shroud to seal in the air flow. I replace  with new ones to keep it org. I also had to get a new frame..it was rotten at the bottom and I did not notice it until rad. was out. The lower hose is installed at the factory before the body goes on. 1.engine 2.hose. 3.rad. and 4.rad. frame., then 5. body. It was the hardest hose I have ever changed and I swore I would not do it myself ever again! I had to loosen my new frame(lots of stuff) to get the hose in place and on. Hope yours' is easier....(G)

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