homemade coolant resivor ideas please

[dukcaln]

so i want to do a homemade coolant resivor. i have heard of some cheap builds. like beer cans that have the screw top and water canisters/bottle with screw top..... I would like some ideas in this area to do one my self... anybody got pictures of thiers or a link to a thread on how to build one...parts used ect.....

[fastwillie 696969]

i just got a small plastic one from jegs 20 dollars ,it has petcock on the bottom ,havnt put it on yet .

[AirSpeed]

I bought a windshield washer fluid tank and bracket from LMC, about $15. It looks stock. I mounted it opposite the regular washer tank, it fit perfectly behind the battery and looks like it was meant to be. The cap even has a tube that goes to the bottom of the tank so when the rad cools off it allows the coolant to be sucked back in the rad. Make sure you buy a two way radiator cap, they have a second valve that allows the coolant to be sucked back in when it cools off.
Posted via Mobile Device

[JimKshortstep4x4]

I have a windshield washer container as an overflow tank and it tucks nicely into the "teacup" so all you can see is the overflow hose.

Jim

[cdowns]

you could get one of those jugs that they have in hospitals for patients to pee in and put a skull decal on it // bet that wood b a one of a king overflow container

[Steve Hafner]

Here are a few pictures of the one's I've saved.
I need to do the same thing too !!!
The first one was said to have come out of a GM "G" body.

[Warrens69GMC]

That bottom one (blue) could be made with PVC if you have that laying around.

[eagleuh1]

I like the aluminum water bottles from Walmart. $5, muffler clamp slitely spread to fit. Drill hole for tubing to go through lid, then put section of tubing to go to bottom of bottle. Cut tip at angle to avoid sucking on bottom of bottle. Drill 2 holes for clamp in fender lip, down low so hood will clear bottle top. Clamp on. I used one for my washer bottle.

[cadillacart]

Jack Daniels bottles are cool! Empty of course.

[68gmsee]

I used some 2" black pvc pipe from Lowes and two caps. Glued one cap on one end and left the other unglued (top). Drilled a hole for the hose to go through and clamped the pipe to the radiator support.

[dukcaln]

so, I like the blue one above, do i need just a hose to the top of the canister.... of is there a need for a hose to return from the bottom of the canister back to the radiator... I dont have anything on the truck now, and once in a while I get a drip out of the fitting just under the cap.... I dont have it blocked...

Originally Posted by eagleuh1

I like the aluminum water bottles from Walmart. $5, muffler clamp slitely spread to fit. Drill hole for tubing to go through lid, then put section of tubing to go to bottom of bottle. Cut tip at angle to avoid sucking on bottom of bottle. Drill 2 holes for clamp in fender lip, down low so hood will clear bottle top. Clamp on. I used one for my washer bottle.

[dukcaln]

cool so no need for a return line right, just a line in the top so the canister catches the overflow when it flows. right?

[propanemudtruck]

Just make sure there is a means to vent the cannister, otherwise it won't be of much function. Oversized hole for the tube would work just fine with the tube going to "near" bottom of the tank.

[cdowns]

if you dont change radiator cap the coolant just stays in the overflow tank and does not go back into radiator

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by dukcaln

cool so no need for a return line right, just a line in the top so the canister catches the overflow when it flows. right?

That's the way I have mine but as propanemud says, there should be a way for venting. The top cap on mine fit's snug but not glued and the air seeps in and out. A small drilled hole on top would help also.

I put the hose inside just touching the bottom and cut it at an angle to allow flow. THen filled the radiator to the top and left the overflow tube empty.

As engine warms water flows to the reservoir and is sucked back in when it cools down. This way the radiator is always full. Apparently, my truck likes a full radiator.

The cap should be one that is able to suck the fluid back in when it cools down.

[dukcaln]

i will go out and take a picture then post what I am working with

[dukcaln]

cap I am working with......

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by dukcaln

cap I am working with......

A two way cap will have a round valve on the inside, you should be able to pull on it and have it open, they are spring loaded and when you let go it should seat. As the coolant cools it creates a vacuum, sucking the valve open and refilling the rad with coolant from the overflow tank. I can't tell if yours is correct without seeing the bottom, they all look the same from the top. (most anyway!)
Posted via Mobile Device

[BluTrukker]

would a jack daniels bottle break due to heat and cool over time? How much coolant capacity do you need? 1.75, or would a liter bottle work?

[my67c20]

The blue one is mine. I purchased that from Summit and on hte bottom it has a petcock, no return line.

[dukcaln]

I don't think bottle would be good.... I think the cool looking beer cans with the screw lids.... I would inmagine if the truck used very little to non extra freeze that a liter would do it....

[Kidd-7]

Check out this thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=433972 I have an empty fire extinguisher I want to use, it may be too large though. The PVC seems to be a good option I should have some left over from my bathroom...

[dukcaln]

man I got a few ideas now, just need to decide on one...LOL

[crazy longhorn]

I have a 3" dia chunk of driveshaft tubing (about a ft long)....both ends are capped & welded , feeds in from the bottom, & the overflow hose is out the top. Its ugly, but it works....never pukes on the street crazyL