radiator coolant recovery

[ShelbyDogg]

Chevy, You can get the manual style windshield washer bottle that just has a plastic fitting at the bottom.  Those came with the "push with your foot to squirt"  bulb under the dash.  That way you can run a longer hose towards the battery, then down and around, hidden out of site. It will stay full whatever length it is.
    Are you sure that you don't want to just fix the windshield squirters and get another overflow bottle?   Just hide it somewhere if you need the stock look.

Rob

[chevyconvert]

thanks again for the good info Rob.

I'll never drive this car in the rain (intentionally) and I think the underhood looks better without the lines.
My other car (brand name withheld:o) has only seen some sprinkles on two occasions in 20+ years.

So there's no way to use the original that's on there?
 or let me guess, like everything else on these cars they're hard to find and worth thousands!

[ShelbyDogg]

The original's feed line is too small and the coolant would have to go both ways through the pump's internal assembly. If you hooked that fitting to your radiator vent hose, you can use it to fill your radiator if it was low, BUT it will blow you radiator or hoses when it tries to release pressure.    The brand new washer bottle, with the single fitting is the easiest and cheapest way to accomplish what you're after.
Rob

[chevyconvert]

on these bottles:

  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/13-STAINLESS-STEEL-RADIATOR-OVERFLOW-TANK-CHEVY-FORD_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33602QQitemZ8073858829QQtcZphoto

there are two lines stub'd out of the bottom...
I assume the one my radiator overflow would attach to feeds from the bottom and the other line stubbed out is an overflow which must have a tube that extends inside towards the top filler cap?
Is 13'' enough (no jokes ) or should I get the 17" deep one?

[ShelbyDogg]

It depends on how much yours "PUKES".  Hook up a regular catch type can that doesn't have it's hose in the liquid.  Fill your radiator to the top, then drive the car around a little hard on a hot day.  The Radiator will puke out a certain amount of fluid for expansion.  Then measure that quantity and see if your container exceeds that amount.
That should help you order an adequate size.

On the 2 lines in the tank, the one that stays in coolant till it is dry, is the one to hook the cap hose to.  The other one is the overflow drain and should only be wet if the tank fills to capacity.

Keeping all of the air out of your cooling system with a coolant recovery system also helps keep rust build-up down in the block.
Rob