LS1 Header Tank

Ralph_C · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 04:21 PM

No idea about LS1 header tanks - but does anyone know anywhere that have header tanks for sale? Or do you need to get it specially built?

Beejay · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 04:54 PM

Bruce,

I think most of us with LS engines have had custom ones made.

Shaun made my one up, and it is brilliant. I am filling via the heater hose outlets. (Car is not running yet, so not sure how well it works).

Make sure you can bleed all of the air out - others have had problems with overheating if there are any high points in the system.

Cheers,

Ben

400TT · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 06:04 PM

In my experience the best solution is to fit an in-line filler neck and an over-flow tank.

In-Line Filler Necks and Over-Flow tanks are available off the shelf. You can even use the plastic over-flow tanks from cheap auto stores. The only problem with plastic ones is that they discolour and look terrible after a while. Even when new they are not the most attractive thing.

Snake Bite sell both anodized CNC machined T6061-T6 alloy In-Line Filler Necks and polished stainless Over-Flow tanks.

You want to fit your in-line filler neck to the top radiator hose, ideally so that it is the highest part of your coolant system. If it isn't the highest part, then it will be more difficult to get all the air out of the system. You can fit a small bleeder to the top of your radiator if it's the highest part to bleed air out of the system when filling with coolant. Or if the top hose is the highest part, just push it down to burp all the air out. It can also help to get all the air out, by filling the car with coolant while sitting the front up on ramps/axle stands. You can also run the car with filler cap off to bleed off some extra air, and give it a little rev to squeeze a little more fluid in and quickly put the cap on.

Our first Cobra had an in-line filler cap that was below the top of the radiator. We would just fill the coolant as high as we could then run the engine, the engine would eventually bleed out the extra air into the over-flow tank. When the car was cool, we would keep topping it up until all the air was removed.

Once all the air is removed and you engine is up to temperature, you should see the over-flow tank level rise as the engine bleeds excess coolant into the over-flow tank. When the engine is cool, the over-flow tank level should drop as the coolant is returned to the cooling system. If you have air in your system, the over-flow system normally does not work.

LoBelly · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 07:28 PM

hi

mines not the prettiest solution but it works very well for getting air out of the engine.

i think that keeping the header tank/ filler high and the ability to easily ensure that it is just coolant in the engine is far more important than the size of the header tank.

If you dont have a top hose with an outlet like mine you might be able to tap into your manifold to get at the coolant (this is what I did to mount the temp sensor near the thermostat).

LoBelly

Aussie Mike · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 07:58 PM

This is about the only pic I could find that shows my header tank setup.

There's an AN#6 fitting I've silver soldered onto the crossover pipe between the heads. This leads to the top of the header tank to purge any air bubbles out of the system. There's a similar AN#6 line from the top of the radiator to the top of the header tank to burp the air out of the radiator. The line at the bottom of the header tank is an AN#10 and it runs to halfway up the radiator side tank. This is the fill line. The radiator and engine block fill fine, you just pour the coolant straight into the header tank and it drains through. Air is purged out as you go. I've had no overheating problems and the temp guage has behaved itself even on the track.

I've still got to make a matching overflow bottle.

Cheers

cobbindale · #6 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 12:09 AM

Another version along the lines of Mikes but horizontally mounted using the radiator hoses directly.

Cheers,
Dale.

Aussie Mike · #7 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 01:07 AM

Looking really good there Dale. Got a date planned for rego yet?

Cheers

acecob · #8 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoBelly

hi

mines not the prettiest solution but it works very well for getting air out of the engine.

i think that keeping the header tank/ filler high and the ability to easily ensure that it is just coolant in the engine is far more important than the size of the header tank.

If you dont have a top hose with an outlet like mine you might be able to tap into your manifold to get at the coolant (this is what I did to mount the temp sensor near the thermostat).

LoBelly

Tidy up those leads son

LoBelly · #9 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 07:14 AM

I'm so embarrassement....

It was pre-paint - Much tidier now but will be replaced soon anyway - different distributor (and cap style) going in with the reco'd motor. Think I'll stick with blue.

(seems a shame to have gone to trouble of getting nice 9mm leads only to have to swap 'em - oh well.)

LoBelly