Classic/Antique Car Repair: radiator flush, radiator flush, radiator shop

Question
Hi:  My 65 Imperial's radiators water looks real dirty....is there a valve on bottom of radiator that I could open and drain it out---flush with clean water and then refill with coolant/water mix ?   thank you sir !  Bob,  West. Pa.

Answer
Yes, there is a brass drain spigot on the bottom tank.  The handle looks like a wing nut.  Turn it to the left, like a normal faucet, and it will drain, unless there is so much accumulated crud that it is plugged up.  If this happens, you'll have to remove one end of the lower radiator hose from the radiator.  This is usually pretty easy, but it is a messy job - you will probably get a bath in dirty water.   Before you refill the radiator, take a small flashlight and look through the radiator cap opening at the tops of the verticle tubes - if you see pieces of junk in there, you probably need to take the radiator out and have a radiator shop clean it out for you.  Of course you should also flush out the engine also if there is loose material in there.

I'd like to make you aware that there is an on line Imperial Club at www.imperialclub.com - I am a member (I have 6 Imperials) and I find it a very valuable resource.  It is free, and the folks there are really helpful and friendly.  Just sign on at the web site, and in a couple of days you'll get more e-mail than you probably want about Imperials.  You can put yourself on Digest Mode 0- that cuts way down on the e-mail.

Good Luck with your beautiful car - they are really the class of the mid 60s!

Dick.