Puke Tank Question
 

Don't tell my wife, but I spent 180 bucks on a puke tank (oil expansion tank). My oil pan had a return line for it so I felt obliged. Plus I don't see too many on Cobras (probably because of the price tag).

Question: There are 2 large input lines that you tie to the valve cover breathers. there is one large output line that runs back to the oilpan. There is another small input line to the tank...anyone know what this is for??

i believe the small pipe is for the trans vent tube.

Joe

Mine is hooked up as follows...by the Kirkhams their ownselves.

Looking at it from the front of the car...

Bottom-most line on left...down to the oil pan.

Large one on the upper left...down to and alongside the trans and hung to catch the airflow. Creates a bit of a vacuum in the tank for the vapor to escape.

Large one on right...to the valve cover(s) (with a tee) or to the back of the manifold if yours has a provision for it (that's where mine is hooked up).

The small one lower down on the right...hooks up to the top of the trans and tees to a line from the rearend...mostly vapor from these two sources.

I've seen them hooked up in a variety of ways though.

Where did you purchase your puke tank? I'm looking for one for my Superformance.

Thanks.

Mounting Problem on ERAs?
 

Joe A
Another issue you will have to address besides hookups and how to break the news to the wife is where to mount your puke tank. Because the ERA firewall is already occuppied with electrical components that must be relocated if you're to mount the tank in its original location--originality being a big issue to most ERA owners--where and how do you plan to mount yours? I would like some feedback because I am also considering installing a puke tank.

Thanks for any suggestions.

I'm confused about hooking the small line to the transmission since everything drains back to the oilpan?

sierramadre45 ... I purchassed it from the Kirkhams

speed220mph...You have more insight into the mounting location than me...I don't have my car yet. The tank is quite small...do you think there is no room on the firewall to mount it? I usually see them mounted about deadcenter on the firewall.

Joe...don't be concerned about trans fluid. It's quite an uphill climb.:3DSMILE:

It's venting vapor...damp vapor, but not fluid.

Where on the trans does it attach?

Joe A

Check out this thread: http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/show...ight=puke+tank
Note that the tank is mounted off center to the right, or passenger side on computerworks car. The outboard end is approximately in line with the right wiper pivot. It would be nice to have an dimension off vehicle center.

As for room on the ERA firewall, there's plenty. The big BUT is you have to make room by relocating some components. I think it's worth it, though, to eliminate the oil haze that accumulates at each breather on top of the rocker covers. Better yet, I am thinking about installing a hidden PCV system, which is even better for the engine and doesn't add much weight.

How difficult is the relocation of components?

Also I don't think a TKOII Transmission has a venting mechanism...I'll have to check

Joe A,
Relocating components on the firewall can't be all that bad, just a pain in the rear.

As for the TKOII vent, all transmissions need one, but I'm not sure about how this transmission is vented. For sure, it would have to have a nipple for connecting a hose. Personally, I wouldn't bother unless you're going to race the car. The big one is to vent the crankcase and drain oil drop-out back to the pan.

Practicality aside, I like them. It is another one of those "different" things about a Cobra.

Doesn't this one go to the aircleaner?

Jamo, I may have mis understood ,but last week I was talking to Bill at Motorsports Int and he said that the trans oil is the same weight as the engine oil so it does not matter if they mix. This sounded funny to me. I thought the trans needed 90 weight oil. I'll give Bill another call and clearify that, Sal.

Sal

I believe it depends on the trans, the use intended, and the mfg's and the builder's recommendations.


Sizz

I see no reason why it couldn't...sorta makes the puke tank a bigassed pcv valve, I guess. I think dumping it down to the bottom of the car to catch the airflow is just the ol way of doin tings.%/

All,

The tank is a nice and original pice of the racing history of the Cobra and is available from several suppliers to include Kirkham, Shelby and Motorsports International as well as several others.

To be quite honest the plumbing of the tank has seen several configurations over the years however the original intention was to minimize the excreation (pardon my spelling) of both vapor and liquid lubricants of the vehicle in front of the rear wheels of the vehicle.

The diff and trans use 90 weight and the engine uses 40 or 50 weight however it was not an exact science back in the days of rubber and thunder, contamination and viscocity were not a concern (winnig the race was, who cares if the guy behind you spins out unless he is on your team).

The laws of gravity were in effect and the highest (usually passanger) side 1/2" port was intended to be used as the windage hose and was run along the chassis to be dumped behind the rear wheels in ordr to avoid spinning out in your own grease if a puke situation arose in the engine, the trans and rear end plumbing was for breather purposes and to avoind the same however they run under fairly constant pressure, run or fail (please note that the original 427 S/Cs were equipped with a Diff Cooler System and did not need a breather).

Please remember that we did not have PCV Valves back in the early days and were racing towards the flag every time we started the engine.

This was a development of CS and Company during the 1964 season when we were racing for the championship with the 289 FIA models.

Please note: Most of the original tanks I have seen are mounted aprox 1" off center to the passanger side to the inside end of the tank and 4" down from the hood opening to center of tank.

I thinks it is a neat piece, please let me know if you need more detail on availability or location,

R Brent Fenimore