Last night, in keeping with my taightwad nature, I fashioned a radiator overflow tank from parts I had laying about. The plan is that this tank is a temporary tank so I can run the truck and will eventually get replaced with a fancy chrome one.

I started out with some 2" black ABS pipe, a pipe cap, a threaded coupling, screw on cap, 1/8" brass fittings, and some conduit hangers. I made my tank approx. 15" long. From my rough calculation it should have a capacity of approx .8 gallons.

Here are the parts (I had already glued the threaded coupling to the pipe)


I drilled a 5/16" hole in at the botom edge of the cap and through the threaded couple below the threads and tapped them with a 1/8" NPT pipe tap

The fittings were installed, I used 2, 90 degree elbows that had 1/8" NPt threads on one side and a hose barb on the other. You could choose whichever fitting or combinations thereof that fit your application.
The oveflow hose from the radiator attaches to the bottom fitting, and a hose is run from the top fitting to below the frame in case of overflow of the oveflow tank (thats a mouthful)

A conduit hanger was used for mounting (I only had one, I will have to go out and buy another) I chose to mount it just ahead of the radiator on the drivers side but it could go just about anywhere


A little bit of black paint on the cap, attach the hoses, and bolt it in place and I'm all set

Since I had most of the stuff laying about my total cash outlay will be about $5 since I need to buy 1 conduit hanger and another bottom cap (I drilled my first hole in the bottom of it and then changed my mind...oops)

Now I need to run some temporary wiring to the ignition and switch, starter, fuel pump, alternator, and line lock solenoid (hehehehe) and maybe I can get the beast over to the muffler shop.

Bobby

 

That's neat. Not bad for a temporary solution. I don't know if I'd use that long term. Also, I don't know how cold it gets in New Mexico, but you might want to put a few ounces of coolant in the bottom so if any moisture gets in there before being used it won't freeze and crack the PVC. Keep on truckin.

 

Looks like a good cheapo fix. I got my nice fancy polished stainless 2 pint capacity overflow tank for $20.00 a year and a half ago at the Southwest Street Rod Nationals from C.W. Moss (Good luck finding one that cheap now ) Hurry up and get that truck running, I want to see that big ol' Caddy tear up some pavement.

hotrod48