Tearing down the front end

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Oct 1, 2009 | 08:58 PM

D & D

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From: Central Wisconsin

Tearing down the front end

My son and his friend have taken off both front fenders, the hood, and the grill. Once that was done, my son had to start her up and rev it up a little. I loved that smile he got on his face. Its kind of cool that they were both eager to tear it apart. Lets see if they are so eager to do the dirty work. So now we are a point where the next things to remove are the radiator support, radiator and aprons.

Is it ok to leave the block with no antifreeze in it over the winter? Is there a set up to remove the radiator but keep fluid in the block?

Oct 2, 2009 | 05:11 AM

jowilker

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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina

Are you planning to leave the engine in the chassis and the chassis out side?

Water freezes, if it has proper antifreeze mixed in, it shouldn't.

Where do you live and how cold does it get in the winters?

John

Oct 2, 2009 | 07:06 AM

D & D

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From: Central Wisconsin

Engine will be in the chassis but the whole truck is already tucked into my small unheated detatched garage. In Wisconsin, with a mild winter, it should only get down to -30 or so.

I am thinking of somehow capping off/sealing the lower port and then just filling up the block from the upper port.

Oct 2, 2009 | 11:02 AM

jowilker

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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina

You could do that with fresh 50/50 mix if that is what you guys run up there.

Drain the oil and coolant and there is nothing to freeze, right?

John

Oct 2, 2009 | 03:34 PM

Danger_Dave

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From: UPSTATE NY

i would be scared about moisture possibly working its way in. and when water freezes it absolutely has to expand and it will do so with hundreds of thousands of pounds of pressure. just like tools, lawnmowers, motorcycles and everything else, i would not leave that puppy outside.

Oct 2, 2009 | 05:40 PM

72-F100-4V

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I agree with Danger-Dave, dont trust that the water will be OK. Plus up there is Wisconsin, it gets cold, just -30!! That is down there!! LOL. Even if the water had a way to escape it will still expand in the block. If your garage has power, hook up a block heater and check on it once it a while. The last thing you will want is to have the freeze plugs come out a bit and cause the motor to be pulled.

Oct 2, 2009 | 10:48 PM

70_RangerXLT

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From: Kernersville, NC

Since you're going to have the radiator out, just pull the drain plugs from the block and drain whatever coolant is there.

If it's going to be in a garage, there's no chance of getting water into the block.

No water, no freezing.

Definitely not something to fret about.