Hi,
I used Townsend's instructions to flush my cooling system on my '84 900S not too long ago, so here's some answers to your q's:

1)"What is a petcock?"
Well, it is a drain that (in the 900's case) ends in about an inch-long spout. When unscrewed part-way (just a 1/2 turn or 1 whole turn or so, depending on how much flow you want), the coolant will drain out the petcock. [Be sure the coolant reservoir lid is off, by the way, to vent system, or else it will take forever to drain.] The neat thing about the SAAB petcock is that you can slip a (clear!) vinyl hose over the petcock spout and direct the coolant neatly into a container. No mess! (Well, if you're careful.) And you can see if it's flowing well. I got vinyl hose from the local hardware store (Lowe's Hardware, a chain here in the SE US). I forget the size, but I think it's close to 1/2" diameter but not exactly that.

2)"He refers to the petcock as being on the right hand side of the radiator, i assume that when refering to part locations it's from the vantage point of when you are sitting in the driver's seat"
You are correct. Orientation of Townsend's directions is from driver's seat facing forward.

3)"I know Ihave to drain from bottom of engine block as well."
Well, it is adviseable to drain there, but not totally required. What I mean is that you won't get all the old coolant out if you don't remove that engine block drain plug, but you'll get most of it out. On my '84, it's located on the passenger side of the engine, underneath the spark plug heatshield, just a bit towards the rear of the engine--but not on firewall side of engine.

4)"Is this plug/bolt easy to find. How hard is it typically to get off?"
I must say it's a bit hard to get a wrench on--you have to go it by feel--unless you have a vehicle lift at your relatives' house, which I doubt. Don't feel bad, I don't have a lift, either!

Hope this helps!
Micah in NC

posted by 216.77.232...

• What is a Petcock? Which is the left/right side?, thereuare, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 12:13:02
  • Re: What is a Petcock? Which is the left/right side?, Gary, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 13:32:41
    • All men have one. Mine's named big punisher!, lodidodi, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 18:45:12
    • Who sells the gasket?, Sally, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 17:49:25
  • Some answers for you..., Micah in NC, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 12:30:13 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Re: Some answers for you...(micah?), thereuare, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 12:52:32
      • Gary said it well..., Micah in NC, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 14:34:16
        • Re: getting rid of coolant, thereuare, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 14:56:49
          • sanitary sewer, gorper, Sat, 7 Sep 2002 03:28:19
            • Re: sanitary sewer, not storm drain, Dave 37, Sat, 7 Sep 2002 22:30:49
            • and add more pollution to the water....n/m, joe w., Sat, 7 Sep 2002 21:39:14
              • Wrong, gorper, Sun, 8 Sep 2002 00:14:32
  • Re: What is a Petcock? Which is the left/right side?, bj, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 12:21:59

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