 mahlmann
"11th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 1889
Age: 77
Loc: Las Cruces, NM
Reg: 01-20-11
|
 06-21-22 09:58 AM - Post#2843183
Has anyone added a coolant overflow tank to their '58? I'd like to add one to my 348 but as unobtrusively as possible. Any suggestions are welcomed.
Thanks folks!
Mike Ahlmann
Las Cruces, NM
'50 Tin Woodies (two) Ramon and Willard
'58 Impala Sport Coupe
'69 El Camino SS-396 (Soon going to NJ)
'16 Ford Explorer 3.5 EcoBoost - Red Rocket
|
|
|
Delray_58
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1022
Loc: Scotts Valley, CA
Reg: 03-20-10
|
06-21-22 01:57 PM - Post#2843191
In response to mahlmann
Mike, I added one of those narrow Billet aluminum tanks. Fits nicely with a bracket that I fabricated, but the polished look is not unobtrusive.
'58 Delray 283 3-speed OD
In the family since new |
|
Tony1963
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1411
Loc: Orlando Florida
Reg: 07-09-18
|
06-21-22 02:19 PM - Post#2843195
In response to mahlmann
You can buy reproduction overflow tanks for 70s and 80s era GM vehicles that fit on the inner fender curve and look somewhat OEM rather than some big item sitting there that distracts from the other detail.
| People fear change because it threatens what they know, or what they claim to know. |
|
JayChicago
"12th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 483
Loc: Chicago
Reg: 01-03-13
|
06-22-22 06:09 AM - Post#2843216
In response to mahlmann
I removed the one that came with my car. The stock radiator has a built-in expansion tank above the fin tubes. A second expansion/recovery tank is redundant. Serves no purpose. It lets you fill to the top, but that extra quart of water doesn’t help the cooling system. When up to temperature that extra quart is just riding in the side recovery tank where it doesn’t do any cooling.
|
 japete92
"8th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 2018
Loc: No. Virginia
Reg: 01-18-13
|
06-22-22 06:19 AM - Post#2843218
In response to JayChicago
I removed the one that came with my car. The stock radiator has a built-in expansion tank above the fin tubes. A second expansion/recovery tank is redundant. Serves no purpose. It lets you fill to the top, but that extra quart of water doesn’t help the cooling system. When up to temperature that extra quart is just riding in the side recovery tank where it doesn’t do any cooling.
Correct. Fill the OEM radiator only to just above the internal 'fins'.
The 'upper' approx 1 1/2" of the OEM radiator is supposed to be left 'unfilled'. That provide for an 'internal' expansion 'tank' that allows for coolant expansion w/o dumping coolant out of the 'tube'.
After market radiators? Dunno. May or may not require an external expansion tank.
Oh; the radiator cap is different depending on the type of 'expansion' being used.
Just info.
Pete
|
Tony1963
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1411
Loc: Orlando Florida
Reg: 07-09-18
|
06-22-22 10:51 AM - Post#2843226
In response to JayChicago
The stock system would drop coolant down the overflow tube on the ground. This individual wants to avoid having coolant spill on the ground and go through a recovery system that became popular in the early 70s.
I agree with what he wants to do.
| People fear change because it threatens what they know, or what they claim to know. |
|
mahlmann
"11th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 1889
Age: 77
Loc: Las Cruces, NM
Reg: 01-20-11
|
06-22-22 11:25 AM - Post#2843227
In response to Tony1963
I know that's how it's supposed to work, but car shows in indoor venues frown on coolant spillage. That's what I want to prevent. In our extreme heat here in southern New Mexico (106*+ this past week), I frequently get boiling coolant when parking or slowing down after high speed cruising. It makes a mess.
Mike Ahlmann
Las Cruces, NM
'50 Tin Woodies (two) Ramon and Willard
'58 Impala Sport Coupe
'69 El Camino SS-396 (Soon going to NJ)
'16 Ford Explorer 3.5 EcoBoost - Red Rocket
|
|
Tony1963
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1411
Loc: Orlando Florida
Reg: 07-09-18
|
06-22-22 03:23 PM - Post#2843235
In response to mahlmann
Something like this is what I am suggesting.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/141418586418?fits =Year%3A...
The factory concept of the expansion tank in the upper radiator simply didn't work. That's why they went to a coolant recovery system to avoid spitting coolant when the engine got hot.
Take advantage of what technology has brought to the table.
| People fear change because it threatens what they know, or what they claim to know. |
|
JayChicago
"12th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 483
Loc: Chicago
Reg: 01-03-13
|
06-23-22 05:57 AM - Post#2843254
In response to Tony1963
The factory concept of expansion tank built into the radiator worked just fine for decades. It got changed to remote tanks starting in the fifties, when larger engines required larger radiators, and low profile hoods left no room for a tank above the radiator fins. They went to remote expansion tanks so they could fill the available space behind the grill with heat exchanger. Now it’s the standard in the industry; plastic remote tanks are cheap to manufacture.
If you just need an overflow catch can, an aftermarket remote tank is perfect for that. But it won’t help your cooling system do it’s job.
|
japete92
"8th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 2018
Loc: No. Virginia
Reg: 01-18-13
|
06-23-22 08:12 AM - Post#2843258
In response to mahlmann
I know that's how it's supposed to work, but car shows in indoor venues frown on coolant spillage. That's what I want to prevent. In our extreme heat here in southern New Mexico (106*+ this past week), I frequently get boiling coolant when parking or slowing down after high speed cruising. It makes a mess.
I am not familiar with operating cars in your environment. But IF the OEM radiator is properly filled, and there is coolant spilling out of the overflow (NOT boiling), an external expansion tank would 'capture' it.
But, If the car is overheating (boiling coolant/producing steam) the solution (in my opinion) is not an external expansion tank, nor filling an OEM radiator properly.
A 50/50 coolant mix at 15 psi (at sea level) does not boil until approx 265F. Way too high for ANY operating condition.
Pete
|
|
Gain extra benefits by becoming a Supporting Member 
