Putting thermostats in and cannot find how to drain radiator.
I took the metal shield and spoiler off the only thing left is the crossmember that the rad sits in and I cannot see any drain plug???

As for the thermostats,I don't think it has any or they are stuck open, as long as driving gage stays half way between C and N if standing still goes up to bottom of N and would probably go beyond,both fans are working. Is the passenger side stat. under the front of air breather?? and the driver side on big hose that goes from top of rad to engine block??

I took the 2 screws out that hold the oil cooler in place, wedged it out about 3/4" had a little trash at the bottom between oil cooler and rad cleaned it out.

With drop light I could see all the way to the top between rad and ac and looked clean, don't think I will take the rad out.

Both fan blades are pretty greasy dirt, will clean them for better air flow.

All info welcome and Thank You.

 

There is a tap on bottom RH corner of the radiator, there should be a rod from the top of the tap up to the top of the radiator, this could be missing, mine was.

You can see the tap on the bottom in this pic, it's hard to see the tap in the car. There are 2 metal brackets off the rad with holes this is where the tap rod goes.

 

I will take a pic tomorrow and post it.
I did see 2 semi clear plastic plugs with a small hole in the middle on both ends of the crossmember that the rad sits in.

 

Neither of my V12 cars had/have a radiator drain of any kind; I've heard the same from others. I don't know what rationale Jaguar used in deciding who got a drain and who didn't.

I slightly loosen the lower radiator hose and gently insert a small screwdriver between the neck and the hose to create a semi-controlled flow. A real PITA

Cheers
DD

 

Last time I changed a stat I just "drained" it at the hose that had to come off the stat housing. Keeps as much fluid as possible.

 

The ROM mentions the drain tap on page 26-4. It's difficult to use if the handle is missing anyway.

 

The drain tap was dropped along the lines. My 89 has the original rad but no tap.

Though I think a retrofitted tap/screw would be a good idea... Must write that down for when my rad is overhauled and recored!

 

Jaguar cost cutting.

My 89 probably got an older radiator then, as the rad is original.

BTW the drain drops coolant all over the place as it's impossible to get a hose on and the coolant runs over the X member and everywhere, no way it was all going in the rather large tub I put under the car.

 

Thank you for the replies.
Am I right in assuming the stats are where the top hoses connect to engine block ?

 

Yep, exactly there. If you get some aftermarket thermostats, make sure they have jiggle pins...

 

Or 1/8 holes instead of jiggle pins. These need to be installed so the hole is at 12oclock.

 

What are jiggle pins ?

 

Basically a little valve, be it a ball or a little metal piece. It allows air to drain from behind the thermostat to the radiator.

 

It did have ststs and I can see the jiggle pin.
89C = 192.2 * I think I want a 160 0r 180

 

@macdoesit, do you have a picture thread here? Don't see too many triple black convertibles - I think I want one.

 

 

On my way to pick up a couple 180* stats with jiggle pins and clean fan blades.
Hopefully will take care of heat problem

 

If the radiator has not been out and cleaned probably not.

If I were you I would pull the radiator out and have it cleaned or re-cored, or I believe for a few hundred $ in the US you can buy a new one. This will fix overheating as long as the engine is good.

 

Thank you, I will try rad flush first, if not a fix guess I will pull the rad.

 

Very nice macdoesit. Got any with the top down so we can see exterior and interior at the same time?

Thanks!