Need Help, thermostat swap

[Hookedup87]

Ok. Looking to swap in a 190 degree stat in my 18 Hemi Big Horn. Watched a video where this guy opened some kind of drain valve on bottom of radiator and let some coolant out before removing hose with thermostat housing attached to get to thermostat. But I don’t see anything on the bottom of my radiator. Under the truck there is a plastic shield that covers everything on the bottom of the radiator. Is there something behind that shied to drain it? I looked from above and ran my hand under it and didn’t feel anything. Is there any way to do this without draining radiator? Do I just pull housing and deal with the mess? Think it’s probably gonna be alot of coolant right? What’s the best way to attack this? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Hope everyone is having a safe and healthy Memorial Day weekend

 

[G-Ride990]

Just pull the housing off with the hose attached.

I swapped mine out a long time ago, but I don't think I even lost a gallon of coolant. No need to drain the whole system.

 

[dpost01]

Just pull the housing off with the hose attached.

I swapped mine out a long time ago, but I don't think I even lost a gallon of coolant. No need to drain the whole system.

Same with me. I had to change mine in 2011 Ram 1500 and I just pulled the housing off and let the fluid pour out. I didnt lose that much, unless you just dont want to make a mess.

Sent from my SM-N960U1 using Tapatalk

 

[NJMOPAR]

The petcock is on the bottom back of the radiator on driver's side. It's a hexagonal plastic plug.
1/2" I think. Crack it open about 1/4 & it should drain. Take the cap off first.
I only drained enough where my upper hose was empty, about a quart. Use a clean pan and you can pour it back when you're done.
I also put the t-stat weep hole at 3 o'clock, that's where the factory one was.

 

[Wild one]

The petcock is on the bottom back of the radiator on driver's side. It's a hexagonal plastic plug.
1/2" I think. Crack it open about 1/4 & it should drain. Take the cap off first.
I only drained enough where my upper hose was empty, about a quart. Use a clean pan and you can pour it back when you're done.
I also put the t-stat weep hole at 3 o'clock, that's where the factory one was.

Weep hole goes at 12:00.

 

[Hookedup87]

Thanks for the help guys. NJMOPAR. I found the drain valve exactly where you said it would be. Drained enough out into one of wife’s lasagna pans, ssshhhh, and off I went. Thermostat is in. And WildOne you were correct. The weep hole on the old thermostat was at 12:00 on my truck too. Set the new one up the same way.

 

[Wild one]

Thanks for the help guys. NJMOPAR. I found the drain valve exactly where you said it would be. Drained enough out into one of wife’s lasagna pans, ssshhhh, and off I went. Thermostat is in. And WildOne you were correct. The weep hole on the old thermostat was at 12:00 on my truck too. Set the new one up the same way.

Not sure what NJM was thinking putting his in at 3:00 just because his factory T-stat was installed incorrectly,but the weep hole always goes to 12:00,as it lets the air out while you're filling the engine back up with anti-freeze.There's also a metric Allen plug you can remove to bleed the system,but I've never yet needed to remove it. I put the t-stat in place,leave the thermostat housing off and fill the engine with anti-freeze till it runs out the bleed hole,then put the housing on and tighten it down,then top up the engine and the overflow bottle and it's usually good to go

 

[NJMOPAR]

I've had no issues with having the weep hole at 3.
Running a 190 and I'm averaging 186 temp.
Glad you got your job done OP!

 

[Wild one]

I've had no issues with having the weep hole at 3.
Running a 190 and I'm averaging 186 temp.
Glad you got your job done OP!

Doesn't matter if you've had no issues,it's the wrong spot to put the weep hole. Do a little research before you tell other guys how to do things,every thermostat maker will tell you to put the weep/bleed hole at 12:00,just cause your truck came through with it mis-installed at 3:00 doesn't mean it's right

 

[NJMOPAR]

The hole is there strictly to purge air. Anywhere above horizontal plane will accomplish this.
I used to drill holes for my 318s & 340s with a flat plane Edelbrock.
Where's 12 o'clock on those?

 

[Wild one]

The hole is there strictly to purge air. Anywhere above horizontal plane will accomplish this.
I used to drill holes for my 318s & 340s with a flat plane Edelbrock.
Where's 12 o'clock on those?

Jesus you come up with an excuse for everything don't you,lol. You screwed up admit it,lol. The high point on the 5.7 Hemi is 12:00 putting the weep hole anywhere else isn't the proper way to do it,and telling everybody else it doesn't matter is ********.Air goes to the highest point in a cooling system,putting the bleed hole at 12:00 is the highest orientation point in the thermostat housing.Putting the weep hole at 3:00 leaves an inch for an air pocket Think you're on the wrong forum talking about your old LA motors here,correct me if i'm wrong,but I don't think much off a 318 bolts onto a 3rd generation Hemi block does it,the thermostat's do interchange,but that's about it.

 

[NJMOPAR]

Let's just agree to disagree, ok?
No need to get personal.

 

[Wild one]

Let's just agree to disagree, ok?
No need to get personal.

It's not personal at all,you're posting wrong info,and i'm trying to correct you,but you seem to want to argue about it,lol.
It sucks when you're wrong,but there's times you have to admit you screwed up,admit it,and move along.And with that,this thread should be done as I think the majority of guys have figured out the bleed hole should go to the highest point it can, which is 12:00

 

[NJMOPAR]

I'm wrong, and that's fine.
I'm giving my information, not issuing orders.
I stated that my OE t-stat was at 3 o'clock when I removed it and suggested duplicating the factory installed position.
Delving into this, yes, 12 o'clock is recommended by everyone but there's also discussions about anywhere above horizontal in vertical applications is acceptable as once the air pocket is purged the hole becomes moot anyway. Just takes a little longer to purge.
Anyways, I've been thoroughly schooled on t-stat intricacies and will bow out now.

 

[Hookedup87]

So last night when I got home from work I parked my truck and since I work from home on Wednesday made a mental note to check coolant level in the morning. Even though I put all of what I drained into my wife’s lasagna pan back into the radiator, more or less, still wanted to check the level. Better safe than sorry. Open the cap, it was down just a hair. So I had bought a gallon of the Mopar premix coolant so I added just a little and it was full. Put the cap back on and thought I was done. Now shame on me, but I never checked the overflow tank, ever. I mean I periodically would open the cap when she was cold, and level was right there, but never the tank. So I pull the dipstick out, nothing. And I mean nothing. That thing looked brand new. Bright white plastic. I’ve read stories on the forum about how they don’t fill the overflows to save coolant, but I guess I didn’t believe it. But I’m telling you, that overflow tank has never seen coolant. Well now it has. It took a half gallon to bring it 3/4 up the stick to one dot below the max line. Unbelievable.