just undo the bottom radiator hoses and catch all that coolant.
no need to go near the engine end of the system at all.

you really have to be careful about what shop manuals recommend.
one might say to disconnect the battery for some operation ...and on some
cars if you do ...and you don't know the radio code....you're screwed ...so
'consider' what they say, but it's not always full gospel.

I suppose if you remove a cylinder head underside plug, and open the
radiator bleed screw, the radiator will drain completely after a while.
It would be less messy too, but 'the normal way' is use a large pan, undo
one rad hose ...
catch all that you can there.

in changing cylinder head gaskets, where it would be really nice to have
'no' coolant at all in the engine  ( since when you remove the lower cyl
head nuts coolant wants to run into the push rod tubes ) .......it doesn't
even fully drain the engine that well, removing those plugs.
  there's still coolant that wants to run down the push rod tubes when you
undo the lower cyl head nuts.

scott

----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Chapman" <scott_list@MISCHKO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 8:16 AM
Subject: Can I drain coolant from someplace more accessible?

> Replacing radiator.
> Bentley says to drain coolant at head drain point.  I'd rather not
> remove the shield beneath the head.
>
> Is there a place I can drain coolant besides this that will suffice?