Do you have to remove both the block drain plug and the KS to drain the
coolant for a head swap, or can you drain the block with just the drain plug?

 

you have to change the oil anyway, i would just drain the rad and it will not make too much of a mess when you pull the heads

 

Remove both of them,otherwise you only drain one side.You dont want ANY anti- freeze in the engine.

 

why? you really should change the oil anyway

 

Why not dump some sand in it too?

 

I've always only drained one side and used a shop vac on the water pump for the other side. It pulls all the water out of the pump and block so it can't drain onto your opti when you pull the pump off. I keep the shop vac handy durin any big engine work. I don't like seeing dust, dirt or water anywhere it shouldn't be. (sticking the shop vac on the

 

I only did one but if I could do it over again I would do both. None of the coolant spilled out the side I didn't drain, but it was a little too close for comfort on the side I didn't drain.

 

I've always just drained the radiator and jimmied the water pump a little loose, put a drip pan under the car and all has always been well. Both drain plugs should be pulled if you want all coolant drained.
Antifireeze won't get passed the rings in time to drain it out of the cylinders. It's really is no big deal. As already stated the oil should be changed anyway. And sand is just a weeeeeee bit more harsh than a little antifreeze.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I'll just suck it up and remove the block drain plug
and the KS. I may as well pull the starter just to make more room. What's
a few more bolts at this point anyway.