Self sealing hose fittings

[lomondbob]

My SBC supplied by Repower does not have a take off to vent air to the expansion tank. Dax's thermostat housing (which does have a take-off) is too expensive so I've decided to locate some kind of self sealing take-off in the highest point of the top hose (this is a 45 degree silicone elbow clipped to the th. housing). Revotec do a nice little number that will set me back around £30 (see http://www.revotecdirect.co.uk/catal...l.asp?offset=0). This seems a bit steep for a SS bolt, nut and 'O' ring. Does anyone have any cheaper ideas or should I bite the bullet and go down the Revotec route? Thanks.


Bob Sharp

[craggle]

Hi Bob
I did send you a PM the other day but maybe you didn't get it for some reason. Copy of text below.

There is a picture in my gallery that shows the pipe from the top hose back to the header tank. This is actually higher than the Dax supplied thermostat housing would be and the only part of the system that is higher is the silicone hose directly next to the pipe on the top hose. I managed to push the silicone hose down slightly whilst filling to get rid of that last bit of air in the system and I have had no problems yet with air locks. I started the car and ran with the expansion tank cap off for a few minutes and topped up if it went down.

Far easier than my bloody Range Rover is to fill with water!

I got the pipe Tig welded at my last place of employment free of charge but any good metal fabricator should be able to do the job. I welded the extra pipe on then drilled the hole through afterwards. Must be a cheaper alternative to the Dax supplied item.

The stickers on my car I got from finishline in the states.
http://finishlineaccessories.com/catalog/
They are very nice quality stickers but are made of window sticker material. One decided to peel itself off at speed and although recovered I decided to replace them with self adhesive items from E-bay.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/I-Say-Ding-...Q3amesstQQtZkm

The Pure ones on the door are still the finishline items though and they seem to have stuck fine.

Craig.

[lomondbob]

Thanks Craig. No I did not check your reply. I'll need to think about this one. I have the option to buy the take-off and put it into the highest point - which is the bend in the silicione elbow, or go a bit lower down and weld a take-off into the SS pipe. The latter would mean 'squeezing' air uphill a bit. Looks like the old delimma - pay a lot of dosh for the ideal solution or pay a lot less for a less effective one. Will sleep on it and probably make a decision once all the pipes are in place. They're still on order. I'll let you know what I decide.

Bob

[craggle]

If there was any air left in the tiny bit of the top hose it will move towards the air vent pipe once the engine is started and find it's way back to the header tank. Others have also welded a small tube in the top hose and as far as I know they have all worked fine.
I didn't go with the welding option purely because it was the cheapest but because it seemed the best, most permanent and neatest solution available.

Craig