Street 289: aluminum tube from expansion tank to water pump
 

Hi, folks -

Heater-equipped 289 cars used a welded aluminum Y pipe to connect the McCord expansion tank and the heater return to the water pump. A reproduction of this is available.

Here's my question: what did *non-heater-equipped* street 289s use?

- the same Y pipe with the heater return capped?
- a pipe without the Y, just a simple ~90-degree sweep bend?
- all hose from the expansion tank to the water pump inlet?
- something else?

I'm currently using the third option - a hose all the way from the tank to the water pump - on my ERA slabside. It works fine, but if adding a pipe is correct, I'd like to do so.

Bill

The only production cars from the Ford-McCord cooling system components range (CSX2141 and later the best I can tell) that I am aware of that did not get sold with heaters were factory prepared race cars, but not all as CSX2427 was sold with a heater. CSX2019 was an exception as it was too early to have a heater installed by AC Cars and it was fitted with a McCord expansion tank before sale. CSX2019 just used an metal tube between water pump and expansion tank with no side branch.

Lots of street cars, especially in California, got their heaters removed by owners at some point in time. When we go hunting heater parts they are usually found as used ones in California.

I will comment based on race set ups Shelby American did that included expansion tanks they made themselves mounted over the front road springs.

Anyway, Shelby prepared racers normally either got a painted black formed steel tube and short hose connections on each end or a formed aluminum tubes with short hose connections. Typically the tube was formed into a large arc to get over and clear the fan belt. Typically a piece of split coolant hose was slipped over the alternator adjustment long adjustment bracket for CSX2201 and later racers presumably to protect the tube passing over the long arm of the adjustment part.

Thanks, Dan!

You are welcome.

John Bessy sells them in alloy!