289 Expansion Tank

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by LMH

Actually they were spot welded to the tank originally and correct, there was no indentation.
Larry

+1, yes spot welded

[427sharpe]

On the inboard connection, does the tank attach to the water pump inlet (heater outlet) connection alone, or to the bypass hose with a 'T' of some sort?

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by 427sharpe

On the inboard connection, does the tank attach to the water pump inlet (heater outlet) connection alone, or to the bypass hose with a 'T' of some sort?

There was an aluminum tube between the water pump and expansion tank with rubber hoses and clamps for connections. There is a side connection at an angle for one heater hose in the aluminum tube. The other heater hose connects to a shut off valve mounted in the intake manifold. There is a small hose connection between the top of the expansion tank and top of radiator for vapors to escape to the expansion tank. The O.E. Ford thermostat bypass hose was not disturbed unless the car was fitted with some type optional intake and then I would expect on a different hose clamp on the thermostat housing end.

[LMH]

Larry

[otto]

does somebody make that tube assembly
regards Bob

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by LMH

Larry

Larry,
I am horrible at guessing tube sizes in pictures but the tube assembly you show is the type for cars with Corvette/Harrison expansion tanks. The tube for cars with Ford/McCord tank is different.

The drawings below were made from a combination of the original factory drawings (what was planned) and original parts (what was actually produced) to create nominal production part information.

Dan

[LMH]

we didn't neck-down the end where it attaches to the tank nipple as the originals were. We also used stainless steel instead of aluminum but we fit it to the engine. I'd post a photo of it installed but I can't seem to get photobucket to work this morning.
Larry

[LMH]

I'm not aware of anyone replicating the expansion tank tube but it shouldn't be too hard if it's ok with Dan to use his drawings.
Larry

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by LMH

I'm not aware of anyone replicating the expansion tank tube but it shouldn't be too hard if it's ok with Dan to use his drawings.
Larry

The tooling to swage down the end of a tube is very specialized and very expensive, at least production tools were/are very expensive. It took me a long time to find somebody to make me a couple for cars I was working on. They had no interest in making more and selling them.

I have seen some almost like originals made by other processes and one dealer offered (maybe twenty years ago?) welded tube within a tube ends to provide a reduced diameter end for the water pump connection end.

I have sent drawings to several original car owners before but I never got to see what they came up with.

Dan

[LMH]

Sorry, you're correct! It's the end that goes to the water pump that necks down! It wouldn't fit if it was the tank end!
Larry

[Ivygreen65]

I can't tell from Dan's drawing, but is it safe to assume the tank end of the tube is 3/4" and the water pump and heater hose ends are 5/8"?

[mickmate]

Marc Allin at Rare Drive over here in NH made some. Restorations I made one for John Olsens 289, I happen to have some good swagers I used to work with.

[desgros@vtlink.]

Nick,

I believe my correct 289 surge tank came from you.

John




ERA #3010 289 Slabside

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by Ivygreen65

I can't tell from Dan's drawing, but is it safe to assume the tank end of the tube is 3/4" and the water pump and heater hose ends are 5/8"?

Yes on average 5/8 on one end. The process didn't lead to a bunch of exactly the same diameter parts.

[mickmate]

It can look like a totally different part from one shift to another with swaging. It was very dependent on the operators feel or their cavalier disregard for their own safety.

[spl310]

Originally Posted by Ivygreen65

I've been traveling for a couple of weeks, so I'm just now getting back to my tank. A big thank you to Rick (Mark IV) for the pattern he had for the bracket bottom. With the other research that I had done, I think I have a fairly close replica of the bracket. Here is the main support and the pieces. The original Lincoln support is a little long and will have to be shortened.

Any chance I could get a paper copy of the new bracket so that I can fab up my own? Or at least the dimensions?

[Ivygreen65]

I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of the finished product.

[Ivygreen65]

One more

[LMH]

Looks good! The original finish is kind of a satin black but of course, that's up to you.
Larry

[Ivygreen65]

On my restorations, I typically paint the radiators gloss black lacquer. After a few heat cycles, the gloss flattens a bit and the sheen is where I like it.