Radiator overflow questions, advice, pics.. help

[dropanddrag71]

I just installed a new radiator in my 70 c 20 with a 350. The truck has a very bad and damaged universal plastic overflow that i need to replace. I see nice stainless steel ones on the internet but i have a few concerns.
First, what size should i buy, i see them rated in ounces. Next, can i see what your running and where you installed it, Pics, pics, and more pics!! I'd like to see some ideas!! Under the hood is nice and clean, but by no means a show stopper!!! Truck is driven alot in the Florida Heat.

[rsavage]

I don't run an overflow can on any of my trucks. They didn't come with them. Good radiator, good 15lb. cap, shroud, 160 or 180 stat and a good clutch fan spaced into the shroud correctly and I don't have any overheating/purging issues.

Edit Note: There may have been some trucks built for the military with a coolant tank. There is a photo of a military ordered truck SPID in another post that indicates some sort of tank - but to date I haven't seen a photo of one and it is my belief that they were not available on a regular production truck.

[Stocker]

^^ They didn't come with radial tires, either...


dropanddrag71, check this thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=290165

[rsavage]

My point was that if the cooling system is up to snuff in all respects, an overflow system shouldn't be necessary. Although they came with non radial tires, they didn't purge coolant every time they were shut off either.

[Stocker]

Many people are doing fine without a recovery tank, and that's a good thing. I see it as a cheap, easy improvement.... and if for some reason it runs a little hot on occasion, coolant won't be dumped on the ground.

[BigCountryx]

I just mounted a nalgene bottle under my battery tray. Can't be seen and very simple instal. Two holes in lid, line from radiator goes through one hole and all the way to the bottom of the bottle. A second line that only extends into the bottle about an inch runs down through the hole in the inner fender. Works fine for the just in case situation.
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[Andy4639]

The older style radiator had the water level about 2-3 inches below the cap so the radiator it self was the over flow. It allowed for expainsion inside the radiator. That was how the system was built back then. If you didn't keep a good eye on the level though it could have gotten low and you run a risk of having to low of coolant in the system. These systems weren't meant to have pressure caps on them either.

The expansion tank retains coolant in a reservoir that's been forced out of the car's radiatior under pressure. As you run your car, the temprerature of the coolant circulating through the water jackets naturally increases causing increasing pressure in the cooling system. When the pressure builds to a high enough point, the radiatior cap allows that pressure to escape into the coolant reservoir through a small black rubber tube, called an overflow tube connected by the neck of the radiator to the expansion tank. Most of the coolant that is forced into the expansion tank returns to the radiator naturally after a few hours or when the engine is cold. If you had no expansion tank on your car, then the coolant that was released under pressure would spill out onto the road.
Here is some good reading for you.

http://www.procarcare.com/icarumba/r...a_cooling1.asp

[DPowers]

http://www.persh.org/pickup/BurpTank.htm

[Darren MagooGardner]

I saw this one today at UPULLIT, It looked factory, but is it?

[rsavage]

Not factory. They didn't come with one.

Section 6K of the Chassis Service Manual:

"All Chevrolet trucks have pressure type engine cooling systems with thermostatic control of coolant circulation. The cooling system is sealed by a pressure type radiator filler cap."

"All truck cooling systems are pressurized with a pressure cap which permits safe engine operation at cooling temperatures of up to 247 degrees F"

[AirSpeed]

I bought an extra windshield washer tank and mount from LMC for about $15, it works great and even comes with a cap and tube that reaches the bottom of the tank so it can suck up the coolant.
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[rsavage]

Originally Posted by AirSpeed

I bought an extra windshield washer tank and mount from LMC for about $15, it works great and even comes with a cap and tube that reaches the bottom of the tank so it can suck up the coolant.
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Nice idea and it would look about as factory as is possible.

[hayhauler71]

one from summit racing