Expansion/header Tank

[martsam]

Hi All,
It's a while since I needed your help as the car has been garaged up over the winter. Anyway I was having temperature problems towards the end of last year. The car would run OK but sometimes the temperature would keep on rising even though the fans kicked in. Also I was sick of having to fill the radiator after a short run. So I want to fit an expansion tank. My problem is the plumbing for this. At the moment I have a fill point for the system in the hose connected to the thermostat housing (highest point). The Engine is a RV8 with a Offenhauser inlet manifold. I was goint to replace the inlet "pup" piece with a tee piece and connect a hose to the top connection of the expansion tank and route the bottom outlet of the expansion tank to a small connection at the bottom of the radiator but I would appreciate some advise as to whether this will work. Am I completely wrong. A sketch would be invaluable if possible.

Regards

Martsam

[martsam]

Hi There,
Any help would be appreciated. I would like to do the job right and get the car back on the road.

[dolphinboy400]

my expansion tank pipe comes off the top of the radiator. Unless you want to fill the cooling system from the expansion tank i dont know why you would want a pipe going to the bottom of the rad.

[TINKA]

Only advice I would give is get an expansion tank from AK and follow their system as it works. Don’t know anyone who has had any problems with this system, very simple but effective.

[martsam]

Thanks for the Responses.
However I already have purchased a vertical expansion tank but need advice on how to plumb it in.

Regards

Martsam

[TINKA]

A picture of what you have bought would help.

[martsam]

Hi Tinka,
Here's a photo of the item I have bought.

[KevinW]

dont know what car you have so difficult to be precise.
but most sumoes run a vertical expansion tank similar to the one you have.
the tank is connected to the front bulkhead and acts as the highest point. The top exp tank conection connects to the small top outlet at the top of a sierra diesel radiator. The bottom hose connect to a similar pipe right at the bottom of the rad.

when filling, fill the top engine hose halves as high as possible, then connect as quick as possible. next jack up rear of car, start up engine, with exp tank cap removed and wait till fans switch on. then rev engine for a few secs. Top up till about 1/2 full & repeat until car stops belching hot coolant out the exp tank. Others will say it isnt the greatest design, but my car has never boiled over (RV8 ) or missed a beat due to cooling system. But the key was getting all the air out of the system, which took me several attempts.

HTH

Kevin

[martsam]

Thanks Kevin for the reply. I have a Sumo. But I do not have the Sierra Radiator. I bought a large radiator from a supplier which should be good enough (I hope). I have a filler point on the hose from the Thermostat at the moment. All I thought about doing was replace this filler point with a tee piece (15mm branch) and run this to the top connection of the tank shown. The bottom outlet I was going to run to a small branch connection at the bottom of the radiator. Only thing is I am not sure this will work so I am asking if I am wrong or not.

[Daxman]

Hi,

I copied these diagrams from some where, they might help.

Russ