Great pictures of those NOS items Mike, thanks for posting them. And thanks to you Tim for those illustrations. I would tend to agree with you about the accuracy of the pictures in the data books. The decal in the ‘49 data book is similar to the reproduction decals the vendors are marketing, which appear to be a copy of the later ones as Tim pointed out, i.e. ’49-‘55 “Overflow Condenser” rather than “Overflow Return Tank“. This later one is shown in The Filling Station’s catalog. Chevs of the 40’s also lists this one with no illustration and they also list one for 1939-48 but again, no illustration. Looks like I’ll have to buy one of each to see what they are copied from. I’ve yet to see an illustration in the data books or any reproductions of the silk screened lettering that appear in the actual photos that Don and Mike posted. Seems to me that I saw a repop decal of that a while back but I can’t remember who was selling it.
I've been wondering about that return for a long time also Ryan. It seems to me that there would have to be a two way cap since the over flow tube is above the seat in the neck. I've never been able to figure out how the coolant in the overflow condenser could get back to the radiator tank. There had to be some special cap that was used with the overflow installation.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
(You'r to quick on the trigger Tim, I'm still editing...)
Just wondering if the coolant tank will work with the standard Radiator cap as you have to have one that has a vacuum valve as well as a sprung loaded one. Or its just a catch tank , As it wont be able to suck fluid past the sprung loaded seal when the pressure drops.
resurrecting this old thread as i just ordered a tank so was doing some research.
a standard radiator cap is used with the condeser tank, the only difference is with the original caps they werent intended to be used with a return system so when the radiator cools the vacuum generated could draw air from both the overflow pipe and leak in from around the top of the cap.
when you use the condenser tank you now want all that vacuum to go towards sucking back the overflow so this is why you are advised to add a gasket seal to the top of the radiator cap if one isnt fitted. that way the only thing your sucking back in is the overflow
i think....
original tanks were lead lined to prevent corroding thru i guess.....i wonder if the repros are....
