1938 ford standard 60 hp motor

[Twrench~70]

I would like to know if the petcocks on either side of the motor for coolant drain is a right hand or a left hand thread. Doing a head gasket replacement and I need to drain the motor. Or should I leave well enough alone and pull the lower hoses on the radiator. please advise Thank you

 

[V8COOPMAN]

.

Those should be a normal, right-hand, tapered pipe thread. DD

 

[flatjack9]

Right hand.

 

[ford38v8]

If all you intend doing is new head gaskets, just remove the radiator cap and open the drain **** on the radiator. It won’t stain your driveway if you have your garden hose running while doing so.

 

[Twrench~70]

There is no drain **** on the radiator ford38v8. there is only two petcocks under the heads toward the front of the motor. Thank you for your reply

 

[Lawson Cox]

Twrench-70, the petcocks are under the engine, near the front. Not under the heads. LOL. (Don't you hate a 90-year-old smart ***? LOL)

 

[fordor]

Why take the peacocks out? Just open them up and drain the motor. That's all I did when I changed the head gaskets. Never removed the entire pepcock.

 

[Twrench~70]

I don't want to take them out I just want to know they rotate???/ Right hand thread or left hand thread to open them up. thank you

 

[V8COOPMAN]

I don't want to take them out I just want to know they rotate???/ Right hand thread or left hand thread to open them up. thank you

Most automotive petcocks that I've ever opened turn CCW (counter-clockwise) to OPEN. DD

 

[flatford8]

Yes turn the same way as to remove them. That way when you tighten to close, they tighten in the threaded bung also..... Mark

 

[Als48]

They are probably left-handed valves. They do open by turning counter-clockwise, but do so by screwing the stem off of the seat inward. I've fooled with lots of them.

Al Hook

 

[Lawson Cox]

They will turn either way to open to close. This ain't rocket science.

 

[V8COOPMAN]

They will turn either way to open to close. This ain't rocket science.

That answer sounds like some obfuscatory BS that a wanna-be attorney might throw-out in a case that ain't goin' so good! DD

 

[38bill]

They will turn either way to open to close. This ain't rocket science.

That's what I was thinking. I think they have a through hole in the stem so no matter which way they turn they open and close.

 

[V8COOPMAN]

That's what I was thinking. I think they have a through hole in the stem so no matter which way they turn they open and close.

Guys....Here's one OPEN, and another one CLOSED. On the CLOSED petcock, notice the "left-handed" thread on the TWISTY thing. As you turn it CCW (counter-clockwise), it OPENS! DD

https://th.bing.com/th/id/R91e78b96148ff5324009b51c41dd2d1f?rik=Sjhy3q0bO4%2briw&riu=http%3a%2f%2fwww.ezairride.com%2fthumbnail.asp%3ffile%3dassets%2fimages%2fproducts%2ffittings%2fnpt-drain-****.jpg%26maxx%3d450%26maxy%3d0&ehk=qDtefujGMGthkYf9PsHjTjtQzMTBxsLyDNC%2bDD4niJw%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw

 

[Jack E/NJ]

The petcocks that turn either way to either open & close are on the bottom of the 38 radiator. The thru hole stem and its bore are tapered like a lab burette Jack E/NJ

 

[V8COOPMAN]

There is no drain **** on the radiator ford38v8. there is only two petcocks under the heads toward the front of the motor. Thank you for your reply

The petcocks that turn either way to either open & close are on the bottom of the 38 radiator. Jack E/NJ

He's already said there is NO petcock on the radiator. Only the two toward front of block. DD

 

[Jack E/NJ]

On my 38 there is. The very bottom underside of the radiator as I think Lawson was trying to point out. Plus 2 pipe plugs on each side of the block. Jack E/NJ

 

[jimTN]

Sounds like some spurious parts have been installed. Original Ford petcocks were solid brass and could be turned in either direction to open. If you have modern junk wingnut draincocks then that is the problem.