[SS4Real]

Dumb question but don't want to strip mine and I don't remember. Which way do I turn the petcock to drain the radiator on an original 70 Chevelle?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dean]

Ccw

 

[Cam]

Righty tighty, lefty loosy.

 

[SS4Real]

Thank you both.

 

[Schurkey]

Righty tighty, lefty loosy.

Yes.







Petcock is an entirely valid word. But some folks get all weird about it, so I switched to calling them "Draincocks".



Be aware that the draincock will be reverse-threaded so that it turns "IN" in order to drain. Then turns "OUT" to seal. But, yeah, CCW to drain.

 

[Tom DeWitt]

I say drain valve

 

[edspdog]

Not so sure about about a pet cock being rightey tightey lefty loosey. Don't they screw in to drain and out to shut off? Most always upside down when working on a radiator.

 

[HKalin]

If it's the brass type it's opposite of the normal way a screw turns. To open it you would have to turn it CCW as already said.

 

[edspdog]

Yep, senior moment, lefty is loosey, but does screw in not out to drain.

 

[1967 chevelle malibu]

I think it has a left hand thread

 

[Cam]

...Maybe that is why the brass insert that the petcock is in suddenly came out from the bottom of my rad and bounced into the storm drain.

Not wanting to leave my water jackets dry and being late on a Sunday afternoon, I raced out at once to buy a replacement copper / brass Modine radiator from the local Canadian Tire store before closing time. That must have been 27 years ago. I still have the original Harrison in the garage.

I hate giving bad info.

 

[Schurkey]

I say drain valve

Safer yet.

 

[zeke67]

They screw in to drain, as mentioned, which seems counter intuitive some how. What I do is take my right hand, stick my thumb at the pet cock towards the radiator. Then turn the petcock the direction my fingers curl. "Right hand rule"

 

[JF74chevelle]

i say drain valve

safer yet.

lol