Drain pipe not long enough for new Dewitt rad?

[Paul B.]

Hi,
I'm in the process of installing a Dewitt replacement rad in my '62. I reused the drain pipe, hex and petcock that was on the original, but now it won't reach through the hole in the rad support? Is this a common issue? It was fine on the original, came out just below the opening in the support.

Thanks,

Paul

[Joe R.]

Re: Drain pipe not long enough for new Dewitt rad?

Paul,

Check to make sure you have the radiator seated properly in the radiator support. NO reason why the replacement radiator won't work. Exact replacement as the bottom of the radiator in that area is flat.

JR

[Terry D.]

Re: Drain pipe not long enough for new Dewitt rad?

Paul
Agree with Joe, I've put in three DeWitt's in three different 62's and used the old drain, petcock etc. and had the same problem on one. took the rad out and found a rubber washer laying down in the bottom. Sometimes you have to wiggle the rad back and forth orr side to side to get it to settle down in. But don't force it. Chech to make sure nohing is blocking the rad from sliding down in it's spot.
Terry

[Paul B.]

Re: Drain pipe not long enough for new Dewitt rad?

Thanks for the replies guys.
I pulled the rad back out, and on the new rad there is a slight recess in the bottom where the pipe threads in. On the old rad (original), there is a bung welded to the bottom of the rad where the pipe threads in (repair?).
The combined difference adds about 1/4" to the length of the pipe assembly on the old one, enough for the petcock to clear the bottom of the rad support opening.
Paragon sells a replacement pipe that is 3" long, was that the stock length? The pipe on my car is about 2 1/4, then plus the nut and petcock.
Do you think I could find a 3" length of the same aluminum pipe locally?

Thanks,

Paul

[Bruce B.]

Re: Drain pipe not long enough for new Dewitt rad?

Paul,
If you are not getting the car judged just use the drain assembly as is.
When you have to drain the radiator just slip a short rubber hose over the end of the petcock and the water won't run into the core support.

[Paul B.]

Re: Drain pipe not long enough for new Dewitt rad?

Update:
The problem that I had with the old extension pipe and petcock on the new rad, was that the petcock was sitting half in and half out of the oval shaped opening in the rad support, I couldn't open or close the valve.
I saw that Paragon showed the aluminum drain extension pipe as being three inches long, the one I had was 2 1/2.
Paragon provided no other info, but in their photo I saw "H 40" stamped on the pipe. Not wanting to wait for the pipe from Paragon, I took some dimensions and did some Googleing, and determined that the pipe is a 3" NPT male to male 1/4'' SCH 40 (or schedule 40) aluminum nipple.
I was able to buy it at a local piping supply house for $5, saved some time and a few bucks, maybe this can help someone else out.

Paul