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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,554 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,554 | I am putting a 350 in my 46/7, do I ( I think I do) need a coolant overflow tank. I was looking at some on ebay. Dave
1941 Chevy"First rebuild - complete!"Follow the story in the DITY1941 GMC resting peacefully 1946/1947 Chevy Street rod on s10 frame complete 1945 GMC panel truck in line for restoration 1941 Plymouth stock complete 1941 GMC COE in restoration processRead his Project Journal1941 Chevy Coe uncertain future resting now
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,706 back yard wrench turner | | back yard wrench turner Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,706 | I put one on my 38. I'm using an original radiator that is not pressured. I installed a mason jar for the overflow tank. Occasionally I will see fluid in the jar.
Wayne1938 1-Ton Farm TruckStovebolt Gallery Forums1989 Silverado 1996 Mustang GT convertible When I die, I hope she doesn't sell everything for what I told her I paid for it! | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 899 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 899 | I run one on both my 55's. I wouldn't leave home with it.
Brian
1955.2 3100 Truck
The older I get the more dangerous I am!!!!! | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 | Have one on my '48 with 350 V8. Works as advertised.
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,787 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,787 | Anytime the cooling system pressurizes enough to push the spring back on the pressure cap, a little coolant will escape. Whether it ends up on the ground or in the recovery tank is your choice. If the recovery tank isn't there, air goes back into the radiator on cool-down and the level gets lower. With the tank, the coolant gets siphoned back in with vacuum.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,554 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,554 | Sounds good. Thanks guys. Dave
1941 Chevy"First rebuild - complete!"Follow the story in the DITY1941 GMC resting peacefully 1946/1947 Chevy Street rod on s10 frame complete 1945 GMC panel truck in line for restoration 1941 Plymouth stock complete 1941 GMC COE in restoration processRead his Project Journal1941 Chevy Coe uncertain future resting now
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 491 Unconventional Thinker | | Unconventional Thinker Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 491 | I'm looking for a cool tank to add to my truck so the coolant doesn't go to the ground.
Shane
Shane's Toys...
2007 Forester XT Limited (2nd Owner)
1991 Cherokee Laredo (2nd Owner)
1981 Chevy 3/4 Ton Fleetside 8,600 Camper Special (3rd Owner)
1965 Chevy 3/4 Ton Fleetside (3rd Owner)
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,706 back yard wrench turner | | back yard wrench turner Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,706 | Here is a Google images for Homemade overflow tanks
Wayne1938 1-Ton Farm TruckStovebolt Gallery Forums1989 Silverado 1996 Mustang GT convertible When I die, I hope she doesn't sell everything for what I told her I paid for it! | | | | | Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 491 Unconventional Thinker | | Unconventional Thinker Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 491 | @Wayne67vert
NICE!!! I have some bottles at home that I can convert into a tank.
Shane
Shane's Toys...
2007 Forester XT Limited (2nd Owner)
1991 Cherokee Laredo (2nd Owner)
1981 Chevy 3/4 Ton Fleetside 8,600 Camper Special (3rd Owner)
1965 Chevy 3/4 Ton Fleetside (3rd Owner)
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,787 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,787 | I'd use a Jack Daniel's bottle!
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | | | | | | Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 3,399 Gas Pumper | | Gas Pumper Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 3,399 | Grigg that's just insanely cool. That puts anything I can make in my shop to total shame. Very nice work! | | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,554 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,554 | WOW has this got me to thinking. Does the overflow container have to hold pressure, if so how much? I am now on the search for something unique. Dave
1941 Chevy"First rebuild - complete!"Follow the story in the DITY1941 GMC resting peacefully 1946/1947 Chevy Street rod on s10 frame complete 1945 GMC panel truck in line for restoration 1941 Plymouth stock complete 1941 GMC COE in restoration processRead his Project Journal1941 Chevy Coe uncertain future resting now
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,706 back yard wrench turner | | back yard wrench turner Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,706 | No it doesn't. Just run the hose from the radiator all the way to the bottom of the container so the antifreeze gets sucked back when the fluid cools.
Wayne1938 1-Ton Farm TruckStovebolt Gallery Forums1989 Silverado 1996 Mustang GT convertible When I die, I hope she doesn't sell everything for what I told her I paid for it! | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | Thanks,
It was actually a pretty simple soldering job, the machine work was just bandsaw, belt sander, and a hole saw. Did use a lathe to make/modify the drain fitting to look about like the original, not a necessary step for function though.
I wanted brass because the original rusted out, wanted this one to last. Was going to roll a can and make a seam until I found that cartridge she'll in my brass stock and it happened to be the right diameter plus and minus a tiny bit of taper from 5".
The one I made actually does hold pressure, it is open to the full radiator pressure connected by a 3/8" hose and the tank has the pressure relief cap. That's the way it works on a GMC 860 and some other old trucks, I suppose like new stuff too.
If the pressure relief cap is on the radiator then you don't need the surge tank to hold pressure. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 134 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 134 | Here's what I threw together last month Overflow | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,787 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,787 | The GMC 630 I drove to KC had the pressure relief valve and overflow tube built into the top radiator tank, and a screw-on gasketed fill cap. Of course, it also had a 503 cubic inch inline six!
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
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