Coolant overflow pics??

[Kidd-7]

Looking for some ideas on how to add a coolant overflow. I grabbed 1 from the bone yard, but it'll be difficult to make work. So what have you done? Include pics for sure... Thanks.

[JJorgensen52]

Did you grab the radiator cap too? When I added my tank I converted to a closed system, so it doesn't just puke coolant to the overflow, it circulates like a modern car. Not a drop of coolant out of it since, and it stays cooler!

I grabbed this from the boneyard, it was an Pontiac I think, late 70's/ early 80's G-body with a V8. Works pretty well, was fairly simply to mount because it matches the contour of the fender nicely, and it still clears the hood hinge. Would like to find a new replacement, the one I have has some damage and leaks around the cap, but it does the job.




close up of bracket I fabbed (stainless sheetmetal I had lying around, took 10 minutes). One of these days I'm actually going to make a permanent mount for it.


Hard to see, but there is a bolt at the front corner of the tank close to the battery as well - I used a hammer to adjust my fenderwell just a smidge (made a flat spot) and put a bolt through

*EDIT* a little google research indicates this tank is from an 80-82 Grand Prix, and that any tank 80-87 G-body will work but the cap location varies

[Hubscrub]

bought this one at advance, ran the hose under the rad support and up to it

[barryvanhook]

I don't have a pic, but LMC sells a bracket and plastic receptacle for the windshield washer ... that can be used as a coolant overflow. Mine is mounted to the immediate driver's side of the radiator, bolted to the core support.

Barry

[Andy4639]

Did mine a long time ago. Monte carlo jug. Ran hose and cap.

[hayhauler71]

bought this one from summit and mounted it to radiator support.

[70jnktrk]

Here is mine...

[Kidd-7]

70jnktrk: that is awesome. I think I will have to borrow that idea. Just don't open the hood first thing in the morning, that'll be some bad coffee. Did you do anything special to that thermos? Aside from drill the hole and mount it.

I see a few people have placed the overflow on the drivers side while the rad cap is on the passenger side, I wasn't sure if that would work, but glad to see it does. That gives me more engine bay to work with.

[myoldchevytruck]

I have not installed it yet but I picked up this at the Englishtown Swap Meet in September. Sorry about the glare its a clear sunny day in South Florida

[Shyguy]

I have seen all kinds of things used for an over-flow reservoir, my son uses an old anti-freeze bottle.

I bought a universal truck over-flow bottle at Wal-Mart I am going to use on one of my trucks. Summit and Jegs have some good ones.

[68gmsee]

My GMC is not a show truck so I decided to make my own. It ran slightly hot for several years and I always noticed that after refilling the radiator it would go back to normal until the radiator would find it's own level. Then it was back to slightly hot.

Never loses coolant and during the summer temp stays normal even in the hottest 100+ degree days.

Cost about $10-$15. I got the black 2" pipe and caps at lowes.

Note: Since these pics, I've replace hose with black hot water hose, rerouted through a drilled hole in the radiator support and painted the fire extinguisher bracket black (large hose clamps could be used instead.)

[Sinister]

This one was in the truck when I got it. Board consensus was that it was a dealer add on. I replaced the cap, original was black.

[70jnktrk]

Originally Posted by Kidd-7

70jnktrk: that is awesome. I think I will have to borrow that idea. Just don't open the hood first thing in the morning, that'll be some bad coffee. Did you do anything special to that thermos? Aside from drill the hole and mount it.

I see a few people have placed the overflow on the drivers side while the rad cap is on the passenger side, I wasn't sure if that would work, but glad to see it does. That gives me more engine bay to work with.

Nothing special..removed the stopper and cut the non collapsable hose off at an angle so it will not stick on the bottom of the container..remember the container must vent..drill the hole in the cap slightly oversize..almost anything could be used...a lot of good ideas here..

[Kidd-7]

Harry, very nice; post a pic once its installed. And no need to rub it in about the glare... Snows falling here and not suposed to stop till Wed.

[treveiger]

Saw one at a car show that was a bottle of captin morgan

[myoldchevytruck]

Originally Posted by Kidd-7

Harry, very nice; post a pic once its installed. And no need to rub it in about the glare... Snows falling here and not suposed to stop till Wed.

i will post them when i install it. oh, by the way........were getting a cold front. by wednesday, it should be dipping into the 40's by the time we wake up, brrrrrrrrrr.

[Critter]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

Did you grab the radiator cap too? When I added my tank I converted to a closed system, so it doesn't just puke coolant to the overflow, it circulates like a modern car. Not a drop of coolant out of it since, and it stays cooler!

It seams that cap is important. Are different caps needed when doing this sort of swap???

[Mr Pops]

Ok, this is my washer reservoir, not my coolant overflow, but it could probably do the trick..

[60ratrod]

wonder what a cop would say if he ever popped the hood when/if you get pulled over......hmmmmmmmm

[Mr Pops]

Originally Posted by 60ratrod

wonder what a cop would say if he ever popped the hood when/if you get pulled over......hmmmmmmmm

I'd let him taste it. I wonder what bug wash tastes like? Reminds me of a scene from Dumb and Dumber..

[54blackhornet]

You can just make out the overflow bottle I used, it's from a 90's GM van. It fit's perfectley in the gap between the battery and the pass side fender. Out of sight and the overflow line makes a straight easy run to it. excuse the battery cable set up, I went to side mount cables after this photo.

[treveiger]

Originally Posted by Mr Pops

Ok, this is my washer reservoir, not my coolant overflow, but it could probably do the trick..

What you need to do is make another one with a real bottel of it and just run a hose from the bottle into your cab, that cant count as a open container right

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by Critter

It seams that cap is important. Are different caps needed when doing this sort of swap???

If you're planning to just have an overflow, the cap that is on the truck is fine - it's what called an "open" system, it simply vents at around 12-15psi in the radiator and empties to the overflow.

I converted (as have some others) to a "closed" system, like modern cars. The design of the cap is different, and it allows the radiator to vent to the overflow at 12-15psi same as before, but as the truck cools off the radiator will pull the overflow coolant back in - this works to keep your system at full capacity as long as there is coolant in the resevoir (overflow), and allowing your truck to run cooler and you to have to worry about topping it off less!

[Kidd-7]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

If you're planning to just have an overflow, the cap that is on the truck is fine - it's what called an "open" system, it simply vents at around 12-15psi in the radiator and empties to the overflow.

I converted (as have some others) to a "closed" system, like modern cars. The design of the cap is different, and it allows the radiator to vent to the overflow at 12-15psi same as before, but as the truck cools off the radiator will pull the overflow coolant back in - this works to keep your system at full capacity as long as there is coolant in the resevoir (overflow), and allowing your truck to run cooler and you to have to worry about topping it off less!

So with a closed system is there more to change than the cap & overflow?

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by Kidd-7

So with a closed system is there more to change than the cap & overflow?

Nope, you have to change the cap to a "closed" style cap (I think mine is off a '94 Caprice 350, IIRC) and add a resevoir, and you're done.

The only thing you need to keep in mind is that you have to use a resevoir that has the fill/suction at the bottom (or a hose on the top fill that reaches down into the resevoir), so that the radiator can draw coolant back in as it cools. A conventional overflow can just fills from the top, and the radiator will just suck air (defeating the purpose)