V-8 freezing concerns?

[John Mc]

Guys, I recently bought a non-running, but free turning V-8 from warm California. It's going to get cold here in Chicago in the next few days - real cold. I doubt there is any antifreeze in the block. Anything you can think of that I can do to prevent damage or just hope for the best?
The car cannot be moved inside, thanks.

 

[tblossom]

John Mc: Be on the safe side. Drain the radiator and block. Tom..

 

[John Mc]

Will do, thanks.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

When I was a kid I had a 429 Ford Mercury Marquis, I had a heck of a time starting that old gal in the cold, I ran a power cord that I set up on a circuit breaker in case of trouble, put a 75 watt light bulb in the engine bay hanging in a nice clear spot so as not to cause a fire and put a big moving blanket on the hood. She always fired up. There may be a safer way to do this, maybe an infrared heater or something but it may be worth while to do.

 

[19Fordy]

When I lived in Wisconsin I used a type of block heater or warmer in the winter. I think it may have been some type of an "electric" dipstick that kept the oil warm overnite. Worked great and not expensive. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_heater

 

[Old Henry]

I ran a power cord that I set up on a circuit breaker in case of trouble, put a 75 watt light bulb in the engine bay.

I used to put a light bulb UNDER the oil pan all through the winter to keep the oil warm so mine MIGHT start. Didn't always. Pushed it a lot on cold mornings 40+ years ago.

 

[Marv]

My father used one of those dipstick heaters for 2 years. On the second year the tractor cought on fire and burned up. The insurance company fixed it and dad installed a block heater.That was probably 30 years ago, and Dad is gone now,but it is still working for me. Marv

 

[CWPASADENA]

If you can not get the drain on the radiator open, just cut a hole in the bottom radiator hoses, both of them.

Chris