Coolant Tank

[Randy Folsom]

This thread was started by Randy Folsom via text. Paul moved the article to this forum





I redid my rendition of the original GT40 coolant expansion tank. Not sure how accurate it is since it based on someone else's copy. My idea is to make the perimeter a single piece that is folded into shape and then flat plates are welded on to close it.

Hoping someone has dimensions from an original.

[Don Pirre]

Looking good, Randy

[Randy Folsom]

Don, Unfortunately, Colin did not respond to my post on FB, so hoping I can get original dimensions elsewhere.

This picture is from a restored original Mk1. You can see that the mounting tabs fasten to the integrated roll bar structure. We don't have that, so my design has the tabs on the panel that's adjacent to the firewall. I am probably going to carve a piece of foam to size and then adjust my design accordingly.

[Don Pirre]

I'm surprised it's mounted so low.  I would think it needs to be as high as possible to fill the engine block and radiator. No?

[Randy Folsom]

I think as long as the top of the tank is higher than the top of the outlet on the intake manifold it will work.

[Joe Volpe]

Randy is correct. The high point is the top of the thermostat housing. So an inch or so higher is all you need...

[Don Pirre]

I see. Here is a pic I took at the 60th reunion.

[Randy Folsom]

There's a long discussion on cooling systems on GT40s.com.
Thread 'Electric Water Pump How to.'
https://www.gt40s.com/threads/electric-water-pump-how-to.57366/

[Don Pirre]

There's that rocket science stuff again. 

[Randy Folsom]

Good Information here:

https://blog.cantonracingproducts.com/blog/setting_up_your_cooling_system_expansion_vs_recovery

[Don Pirre]

Thank you Randy.  Huge help.

[Randy Folsom]

"The pressure relief in the expansion tank should be the highest point in your coolant system."


I figured out why Chuck's tank has the lower cut out going all the way from front to back. There is no space between the upper four link pickups and the firewall.

[Tom Toledo]

Randy, I have that original style tank I purchased from a GT-40 restoration shop out of Maine. Since I have the optional RCR 'wings' that mount to each side of the firewall, I can mount it the same way as the original. The compartments in each wing is where I hide my technology like ECU, check valves, and so on. Let me know what you need.

Awhile back I was going to make these tanks using thin stainless steel and sell a few. Maybe when I retire.

[Randy Folsom]

Tom, RCR no longer sells the wings. I would like to replicate them. Can you share some pictures. TIA

[Tom Toledo]

Hmm, maybe I should make those, too! Very useful, IMO. I had to trim mine around the outer radius but I can give you height, width and depth, and you can trace the radius around your B-pillar.