Radiator overflow tube too long?

nkcarizona

Member
In my first runs with my rebuilt roadster, two or three cups of coolant blew out the overflow tube when I shut down. I have read two threads that deal with this problem. I also have the overflow tube in the middle of the filler opening, not toward the back in my reproduction radiator.

Some have suggested moving the tube opening back under the lip of the top tank. My tube is too long to do this. Should I cut it off and move it, so can I just move the tube back next to the lip?
 
What brand is the radiator?? If you don't want to cut it and form to the rear per the service bulletins, you could try putting a rubber tube (gas line) extension on it to bring it up to just under radiator cap. Even with the tube you're still probably going to "blow" coolant until it finds it's own level. JMO
Paul in CT
 
Sounds like a Brass Works Radiator to me.. This is the one you can not put a Motor Meter cap on...
 
You may not have a problem? As the coolant heats, it expands and the excess goes out the overflow. When you shut down the engine, latent heat expands the coolant even more. I extended my overflow with a rubber fuel hose right up to the cap. As long as there is coolant visible when the engine is cold, you are fine.
 
Speaking of coolant level, does anyone have a tip on how to check it? On my radiator all I see is a brass shield when I look down the neck. I can't see the tubes at all, so I have no idea how much coolant is there.
 
Speaking of coolant level, does anyone have a tip on how to check it? On my radiator all I see is a brass shield when I look down the neck. I can't see the tubes at all, so I have no idea how much coolant is there.

Look to the front of the baffle which is the brass shield. There you should see the coolant level. As stated earlier just covering the tubes is plenty. You should be able to see coolant about a quarter to half an inch up the baffle.
 
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