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CC Advertisers
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08-30-2007, 11:15 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Tolland,
CT
Cobra Make, Engine: Building ERA #749 427 Cobra
Posts: 80
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Not Ranked
Expansion Tank/Dist. Interference
Has anybody experienced interference between dist. and expansion tank. How did you solve the problem? It looks like a spacer between intake and tank would solve it. Is there a spacer out there anywhere? I found a spacer that GM guys use on Chev.big blocks but no FE. If I use a simple spacer the thermostat would be spaced further from manifold, has anyone experience with that?
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08-30-2007, 12:23 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Charleston,
WV
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #661 with a 428CJ, Richmond 5 speed
Posts: 28
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Not Ranked
I had exactly the same problem fitting the expansion tank on my 428 with an MSD distributor. I went with the spacer. Before I did, I contacted Bob Putnam (ERA) and asked for his recommendations. Bob/ERA sold me a 3/8 in piece of aluminum bar stock for the spacer. Bob also cut the thermostat hole as well. I took the bar stock, placed the expansion tank flange gasket over it and traced the outline of the gasket on the aluminum stock. Then I used a band saw and cut out the spacer and a drill press to cut out the two mounting holes. Sand down the cut marks around the exterior and you have a very professional looking spacer. I installed it with gaskets on each side of the spacer.
If you prefer to obtain your own aluminum stock, Aircraft Spruce sells some in the size you’ll need. I’ve used them several times for hard to find parts.
Hope this helps.
John Annie
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08-30-2007, 03:32 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Tolland,
CT
Cobra Make, Engine: Building ERA #749 427 Cobra
Posts: 80
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Not Ranked
Thanks John, that is what I thought I might need to do. interesting that I also emailed Bob, but no answer from him. Did you leave the thermostat in the tank flange side and you have no overheating problems. I know in the stock setup most of the thermostat body is in the coolant flow path of the manifold. I was worried that a spacer with the thermostat further away from the manifold might not act as fast.
Rene'
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08-30-2007, 04:57 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: St. Louis,
Mo.
Cobra Make, Engine: 427 S.O. Dual Quad / Cobra undecided
Posts: 1,380
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Not Ranked
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08-30-2007, 05:55 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #698 428 Toploader
Posts: 292
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Not Ranked
I also used a spacer with no problems. I kept the stat in the manifold, not in the tank flange.
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08-30-2007, 08:33 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Prince Frederick,
MD
Cobra Make, Engine: Unique 427 S/C 427 FE S.O. 484 cu in
Posts: 952
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Not Ranked
Is this a problem with MSD distributors?
My Fomoco and a friends Mallory have no problem with clearance from the surge tank.
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08-30-2007, 09:50 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA - 427
Posts: 56
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Not Ranked
Fomoco parts = no problem
chevy parts = problem
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08-31-2007, 05:31 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Charleston,
WV
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #661 with a 428CJ, Richmond 5 speed
Posts: 28
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Not Ranked
Wow, excellent pictures Lineslinger.
Renew1, to answer your questions, just like Cobred indicated, I also kept the thermostat in the manifold. Haven't had any overheating problems with that set up.
Good luck with your spacer construction. Lineslinger really illustrated it well.
John Annie
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08-31-2007, 07:05 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Des Moines,
IA
Cobra Make, Engine: Sold my beloved Shelby CSX 4068, Gessford 427 Ford
Posts: 756
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Not Ranked
Renew1
Are you using an original tank or one of the replacement ones you build yourself?
Which intake are you using?
I have an original tank, a Shelby single 4bbl intake, and an MSD distributor that fit fine.
Just wondering why my combo fits and others seem to have problems.
My tank has a thick flange that appears to be about the same as the spacers that you guys are making. Do all the tanks have this flange, or is yours missing or not as thick? Is that why it won't clear the distributor?
__________________
CSX4068, '69 Bronco, '70 BOSS 302, '87 Mustang GT, '08 Roush Trak Pak
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08-31-2007, 07:45 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Livermore,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #629, BBM Side Oiler Block, 482ci, Richmond 5 speed
Posts: 853
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Not Ranked
I bought my expansion tank from ERA and the MSD distributor fits fine without a spacer. Renew1 and John Annie, did you get your expansion tank from ERA or somewhere else?
Chris
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08-31-2007, 07:49 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Charleston,
WV
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #661 with a 428CJ, Richmond 5 speed
Posts: 28
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Not Ranked
CJ428CJ
I purchased the expansion tank from ERA.
John Annie
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08-31-2007, 08:15 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Charleston,
WV
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #661 with a 428CJ, Richmond 5 speed
Posts: 28
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Not Ranked
To complete the configuration, I use an Edelbrock (#7105) Performer RPM Manifold.
John Annie
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08-31-2007, 08:26 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Tolland,
CT
Cobra Make, Engine: Building ERA #749 427 Cobra
Posts: 80
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Not Ranked
Excellent pictures "lineslinger". Bought my tank from ERA. I'm setting up for Mass-flow EFI system which uses a 427 victor intake and the new TFI Mallory distributer with small diameter cap. I checked this against amother MSD I have and it allso hit tank. I'm beginning to think not all these tanks are the same, or some of them have been rebuilt with different tolerances. The flange on mine is thick. I will make one based on good info from all.
Rene'
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08-31-2007, 02:10 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Livermore,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #629, BBM Side Oiler Block, 482ci, Richmond 5 speed
Posts: 853
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Not Ranked
You can see here that the fit is tight but no interference. This is with the Edelbrock Performer RPM and a tank purchased from ERA.
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08-31-2007, 03:44 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #698 428 Toploader
Posts: 292
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Not Ranked
To clear things up I used the spacer when I first assembeled the car because I was told I would need it. Since then I removed it after taking the intake off to fix a leak. I have a blue thunder manifold, an msd and a stock ford tank with the neck reversed . Plenty of clearance.
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08-31-2007, 05:12 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Prince Frederick,
MD
Cobra Make, Engine: Unique 427 S/C 427 FE S.O. 484 cu in
Posts: 952
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Not Ranked
Maybe they are dropping the distrbutor in and setting it up so it hits the tank.
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