LS1 Header Tank

macloft · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 03:09 AM

Hi Guys
Got my radiator fitted and now need a header tank to fit the LS1. What is a good size for the header tank?. Where do you connect the pipe work?.
Bruce

Ralph_C · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 03:21 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 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 03:54 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 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 05:04 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 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 06:28 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 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 06:58 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 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 11:09 PM

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

Cheers,
Dale.

Aussie Mike · #8 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 12:07 AM

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

Cheers

cobbindale · #9 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 05:00 AM

Need a set of wheels to put on it and then its all go hopefully.

Dale.

albanycobra · #10 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 05:41 AM

Mike that header tank looks awesome, just what I need for my GT40.
I have a small one at the moment( header tank that is), Any chance of getting one made??

boxhead · #11 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 04:00 PM

Here is a picture of the one that Shaun made for me.

alffie · #12 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 06:24 PM

Cobbindale
Where did you get the straight water pump fitting?

Aussie Mike · #13 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 06:42 PM

Hi Dave,

Norm at Aussie Desert Cooler made it for me originally. It's been butchered a bit since then. Originally I had it made with hose barbs on it and a bracket to bolt it to the foot box. Scotty (OzVenom) welded some AN fittings on it for my and I cut the bracket off and made the clamp setup on the chassis.

Mine is OK but if I was doing it again I'd get one of the ones Shaun makes. He seems to do top quality work and has all the fittings on hand.

Cheers

racer fifty one · #14 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 07:31 PM

Man ,you Guys Like To Spend Money. A 1996 Mustang 11 With A 302 Has A Nice Little Inline ,upper Hose, Deal With A Rad. Cap. It Is Above The Rad. Or You Can Make That Way.cheap Too.

Luke Gillett · #15 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 07:42 PM

Similar to Boxhead's, here's the one Shaun made for me. Along with the radiator, its a real work of art.
Regards,
Luke.....

400TT · #16 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 08:35 PM

If you want to unclutter your engine bay, you can also hide the overflow bottle up under the front wheel arch. At the front or rear of the guard, depending on where your filler is.

On our first Cobra we hid the overflow bottle under the guard. We just used a plastic bottle and made a metal shield for it to protect it from road & track debris. We left a slot in the metal shield so we could check the fluid level. Worked very well. Just turn the wheel to full lock and look under the guard to check the level. As far as I know the under-guard overflow bottle is still going strong 10 years later.

cobbindale · #17 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 01:57 AM

Hi Alffie,

The straight fitting was part of a bulk order from the states by Ben (beejay). You could perhap send him a message as he may have one left over.
Had to machine a little out of the housing as I used a ls2 type thermostat but a standard unit may fit directly.

Cheers,
Dale.

Beejay · #18 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 05:05 AM

I should still have one or two left. PM me if interested.

LS1 Straight Thermostat Housing

Cheers,

Ben

albanycobra · #19 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 06:21 AM

Ok
Someone point me towards this Shaun with magic abilitys to fabricate alloy Art. please.

400TT · #20 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 03:36 PM

Dave, just dug up some of Shaun's threads.

Contact Details:
custom aluminium

Photos of work done:
pics