puke tank

whenim done rebuilding the motor on the Pontiac is it in my best intrest to install a radiator overflow tank on it?

 

I use one just to keep the mess from getting on the engine chassis the driveway and most important from under the tires because anti freeze and water hurt traction.

 

Are you going to race it? Gotta have one if you want to race.

 

The nice thing about a puke tank is you don't get air sucked back into the radiator when the engine cools down. Now for this to happen the tank needs to be constructed so that the discharged water is put into the tank at the bottom, just like any late model overflow. That way when the engine coolant cools down it creates a vacuum that sucks the water back into the radiator past the seal on the cap. Without this the radiator has air sucked back in. This reduces the amount of water available to cool the engine and introduces air into the system which can get into the water jackets and form hot spots (steam) which leads to overheating. Just study the cooling system on any late model car and duplicate it on your hot rod. As Martha Stewart says, "its a good thing"

Frank

 

no race. but it sounds like it will be worth it to go ahead and install one

 

I have a 48 ford (303 and C4) that was continually peeing water out the overflow. Added a coolant recovery and never had a problem afterwards. As was mentoned, make it a coolant recovey system instead of just a catch can. If you like shiney stuff, get one of those aftermarket stainless ones.