The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1950 GMC radiator expansion tank

Should my 1950 GMC have an expansion tank somewhere for the radiator I can't find a place to hook up a line for it so I'm guessing no. What happens if you overfill the radiator? And what is the correct radiator fill level?

Not normally.

What size/model truck, and size engine?

On my 49 GMC the overflow tube exits out the very top of the reservoir, runs along the top to the left side where it turns down inside of the radiator mounting frame and routes down to the bottom where it'll dump overflow on or around the front cross member.
If you pull the top rad mount you'll see it and can access it.

re. coolant level and overflow tank. I recommend them. These AD's when stock like the coolant level an inch or so below full and if you fill it to the top they'll generally whiz it out until the level stabilizes where it likes it. Baring hot days and alot of idling they'll be happy there and you'll only occasionally have to top it off. If it runs little hot it'll whiz it out more frequently and need coolant added more frequently.

I've added overflow tanks to both my AD's and I've found that I can top the radiators off and haven't had to add coolant since. The coolant that whizzes out to the overflow tank gets sucked back in when it cools off. Outta site outta mind.....

So it's 6 of this and a 1/2 dozen of the other.

Good luck
Dave

Just fill it till it covers the core. If you overfill it, it will puke it out the overflow pipe.

The easiest and most accurate way to get your coolant level spot on is a Spill Free Funnel. Put the big funnel in your radiator neck, run the engine until the coolant reaches full temperature. The coolant rises up into the funnel. Plug and remove the funnel and your coolant level is now perfect.

On my '37 GMC, I found a vertical, expansion tank from Dodge, several pickups including Cummins engined ones, that fits well alongside the vertical radiator, easy to mount. Px for email.

Ed

My '52 GMC has a petcock valve at the top of the rad on the passenger side. I open the valve and fill with coolant until it spills out, and then close the valve.

This is similar to the one I used. The black blends in and it doesn’t puke all over the ground when hot and you don’t have to keep filling the radiator.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g1476/overview/

I used this tank. It bolts alongside the rad. I had to make a couple of brackets out of angle iron to allow use of existing bolts.

SS Overflow Tank

It's nice not having fluid puking on the garage floor. I was worried about the cat drinking the stuff.

This is my invention to address the problem. Works great, low cost and gets a lot of attention at shows.

[img]http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/3764/IMG_42105.JPG[/img]

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bummer, will see if I can correct...let me know if it works now

I see it. Cool. Whats the toothpick for, a spacer LOL

Super trick Paul, nice touch with the tooth pick.

Around my neck of the woods, Budweiser bottles seem to be the choice.

You guys don't miss anything. The toothpick is there to vent the bottle as the hose fits rather snugly. My intention was to make a "puke can" reminiscent to something that a idle depot mechanic/technician could have fabricated using locally available items found in the 1940's.

Anyway, I don't want to hijack this thread...just wanted to show other options.

what i did on my 235 (chevrolet) is i took a rubber plug and on that little overflow pipe thing by the radiator cap, i just plugged it with a rubber plug and it holds fine.. also i only have it filled up to just cover the core so a little pressure can build and keep the coolant from boiling over