Is there a minimum or a maximum size for one of these tanks? In researching them I see they’re available in a lot of different sizes.
Might depend on the size of the cooling system and how hot you expect it to get and how much room you have? Between a pint and a gallon, is the perfect size.
The advantage of using a Pabst Blue Ribbon can is that you get to drink the contents. I have lots of empty PBR coolant cans if you need one.
Fill the radiator to the top of tank , with everything cold. Get the engine as hot as you dare, capture and measure the over flow. Have expansion tank four times the measured amount, or more.
I use a MOON water recovery tank and it works real good. A little pricy but it works. I mounted it in front of the grille as you would a fuel tank...…...
A bud that passed away in '87 used a Moon tank on the front of his '55 Chevy 'street freak'...but it contained 2 gallons of Rhine wine, which he made available to anyone with a cup! Really miss ol' "Nooner"... But a drier white would have been much nicer!
A long the creativity of the fan shroud, I'm sure when you come up with a size it will fit the build just right. 16 to 24 ounces, do you want just a catch tank or a closed system that will suck water back in the radiator? Sent from my SM-G900V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I’ve been looking at some available tanks and I have figured out that I can go with a 2”x10” tank (round) and make it fit nicely. Such limited space for anything larger. That amounts to 17.5 ounces so it should work out. I’m leaning towards having it black like everything else. And yes it will serve as a recovery tank as well. You beer can guys and billet shiny guys are nuts
The general rule of thumb for proper capacity of expansion is:- 12% of total coolant volume for draw down; and 6% of the total volume for thermal expansion. Drawdown capacity is the amount of coolant that can be lost before air reaches the water pump and is introduced into the system. Air bubbles in the coolant system can cause inconsistent cooling and can also prevent the thermostat from opening if an air bubble gets trapped underneath it. Thermal expansion occurs as coolant accumulates heat from the engine. The 6% of the expansion volume is calculated from the amount that the coolant level will rise at 212 degrees F. This takes into account the density change of the coolant itself and all the components that are in the coolant system. If the volume is calculated incorrectly and an inadequate expansion space is provided coolant will be discharged from the system at operating temperature. To prevent the possibility of spilling coolant a catch tank or a recovery tank can be used. http://blog.cantonracingproducts.com/blog/calculating-expansion-tank-size-requirements
I did the beer can thing years ago when you had to have a puke can to run at the drags. Wasn't trying to be cute at the time, just cheap. I have an Ebay shiny aluminum tank out in the garage for the 48 but it may be inner fender black when it ends up in the truck. Those aluminum water bottles like GordenC showed are laying around everywhere and you can find them for pocket change at the thrift stores. Two holes drilled in the cap and a couple pieces of left over brake line and you are in business. 1 to the hose from the radiator and one with a 180 in it that runs back down so it vents low enough. That one doesn't want to go deep in the tank though.
Also you can use a metal tube that runs from the radiator, into the opening of something like a beer can or water botttle, and have it almost reach the bottom of the can, and it acts like a recovery tank, not just a catch can.
The Jalopy Journal
