I'm in the process of adding a vent and louvers to my hood for better cooling. Problem is that the overflow tank for the radiator is in the way. Question is, does it matter on the tanks height location (in relation to the radiator) of the overflow tank? I plan to relocate it (or something similar to it) underneath the right front headlight assembly (where some people move the battery to).
Anyone see a problem with it functioning correctly in that location?
Thanks in advance for the input
------------------ "Because in a slit second, It's gone"
You can put it anywhere you want as long as it is in the same vertical dimension.... no lower than it's present position.....maybe a little higher would be OK, but the coolant needs to flow back into the radiator as the car cools.
The coolant does not gravity flow back to the radiator, it is pulled in by suction. With that said, it still needs to be at the same height as it is now...
Keep in mind that liquid always seeks level. Lower overflow/expansion tank can cause big problems when rad cap etc have failed.
Fiero's big issue is Radiator Cap and expansion tank are lower then engine. Is why many have problems using wrong rad cap. Many have found they have overflow the expansion tank when engine cold, even when engine isn't run, and have wrong rad cap. The WP and other seals is made to keep pressure in but often fails on any coolant vacuum, like when you park nose down on small incline and have wrong cap. Even in level ground Coolant can pull some vacuum when use wrong cap or rad cap seal/valve have a slow leak.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
I have an engine swapped car. Since I don't have the air filter canister any more, I moved my overflow tank to the back. It one of the favorite mods I've done to my car.
To do it, you'll need to add a fill adapter and cap, in the rear. Move your normal non-vented cap to the rear, and use a 20 lb cap in the front. Several sizes of overflow bottle are available at the parts stores.
Raydar do you have any issues with the radiator collecting air at the top? I have a pressurized reservoir in the back from a Saturn L/Chevy Cavalier. It has the vented type screw down cap with large hose at the bottom that I T'd into the input water pump heater hose and the small tube to the top that I tapped out the stock 3800 II SC thermostat housing and connected to that. So I fill with the front cap off, till radiator fills, Cap that off. Start it up and fill from the rear reservoir. I have the full mark even with the highest point that coolant would be in the throttle body. I have no issues with "burping" the engine. The only reason I left the 16lb cap up front is to make sure air burps out when hot and is topped of by itself when it cools. I think I have a small issue with the 2 reservoirs swapping levels back and forth. The front fills a little after driving, then the rear fills a little back up after cooling down. Makes sense if the front cap is a little weaker than the rear cap. If you have not had any issues with collecting air, I will just put a stronger cap up front and do away with the front reservoir.
what kind of vent/scoop are you going with? I went with "Tha Driver's" hood scoop and you don't need to relocate the overflow tank. I had the same questions that you have, and could not find the best answer, so I went with his scoop.
Thanks Rob. I was designing my own scoop that was when I ran into clearance problems with the tank.
I really like the one you did in your link. I think I might just go that way since it clears the tank and would save me some time. How much is that scoop?
------------------ "Because in a slit second, It's gone"
check "Tha Driver" web site. yes, its Tha not The. Was not much, I want to say under $200. You can see from my thread it was very easy. It was the first time I ever did that kind of work. HK has a few diff ones too. I like the "mustang twin scoop" that he created after I bought mine, I wish he had it when I was looking, I like it more.
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