After market radiator overflow reservoir

Montgomery Burk · Mar 10, 2017

My 66 dodge charger has some kind of aftermarket overflow reservoir bolted on under the hood. I have attached a picture. It is rotten and cracked and I'm trying to decide whether to try and replace this one or go another route. Feedback is always appreciated. This can has no part numbers or manufacturer marks on it anywhere and from my research I don't think this car even had one of these as the hose was just routed to the ground. I'd like to avoid that as I live in the south and the heat means that I could easily have instances where temperature could be an issue (I drive and enjoy my cars) so I'd like to have an overflow tank of some kind.

All thoughts and recommendations welcomed. This is a pretty original car but not looking for concours quality return back to original. Trying to make it a balance between show quality but also drive and enjoy on a regular basis.

69a100 · Mar 10, 2017

How about something like this? It's a clean app. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-300103/overview/

Darter6 · Mar 10, 2017

Summit or Jegs Have some nice overflow/recover bottles metal and plastic.What you have is the type that is sold at parts stores.They work well but only last a few years. The Summit/Jegs are a heavier plastic and last a long time for about $20.Different colors too.

Montgomery Burk · Mar 10, 2017

Darter6 said:
Summit or Jegs Have some nice overflow/recover bottles metal and plastic.What you have is the type that is sold at parts stores.They work well but only last a few years. The Summit/Jegs are a heavier plastic and last a long time for about $20.Different colors too.

thank you. was looking at an all aluminium version at summit that compliments the valve covers and chrome air cleaner cover.

Montgomery Burk · Mar 10, 2017

69a100 said:
How about something like this? It's a clean app. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-300103/overview/

oh that's nice. very clean and not big and clunky

Ranger16 · Mar 10, 2017

Does your radiator have a built in expansion tank on top like mine does? If so, there is no need for a recovery tank. If you DO need it, either you have an overheating problem or you are filling your radiator too full.

This picture should give you an idea of what I am talking about. The tank is probably only half full. The head space is for expansion.

Yatzee · Mar 10, 2017

Ranger16 said:
View attachment 403326 Does your radiator have a built in expansion tank on top like mine does? If so, there is no need for a recovery tank. If you DO need it, either you have an overheating problem or you are filling your radiator too full.

This picture should give you an idea of what I am talking about. The tank is probably only half full. The head space is for expansion.

If there is no need for an overflow tank, why do you have an overflow tube. The only manufacturer's I know of who had a separate expansion tank was Ford ( 1959 - 1966 ) and it was mounted high behind the rad and sometimes soldered to the top tank. Full to the brink is good and ensures no air in the system, that's why the overflow bottles fill from the bottom or have a siphon tube that goes to the bottom from the top of the tank internally. With the tube submerged in coolant, only coolant can get sucked back to the system. You have been misled if you think the top tank of the rad serves that purpose, or my eyes are not seeing a separate tank on your picture. Overflow hoses push expanded fluid out to the ground and when the engine cools, the cap allows air to be sucked back in as it develops a vacuum in the cooling system. Overflow bottles are the best choice for coolant expansion and recovery.

Dennis H · Mar 10, 2017

1 of 1. Gets me through Tech for Drag Racing. Inexpensive.

PurpleBeeper · Mar 10, 2017

I'll throw my 2-cents in here. You can buy aftermarket no-name overflow bottles at O'Reilly and they have two sizes on the shelf. My '70 came OEM with just a hose dumping coolant on the ground (little "U"-shaped hose clamps on the radiator). And Dennis is correct...you can't get by tech inspection without an overflow. I've seen beer cans used too. I added a "big sausage" looking generic red one on mine that I picked up for $20 at a car show that has a drain valve at the bottom...maybe one like Darter6 is talking about. IMO, just find one that fits & you like the looks of and go for it.

mmissile · Mar 10, 2017

Polished aluminum ones, require constant polishing. They're not anodized.

moes · Mar 10, 2017

i use one off a 2003 Tiburon with the bracket for mounting.

Ranger16 · Mar 10, 2017

Yatzee said:
If there is no need for an overflow tank, why do you have an overflow tube. The only manufacturer's I know of who had a separate expansion tank was Ford ( 1959 - 1966 ) and it was mounted high behind the rad and sometimes soldered to the top tank. Full to the brink is good and ensures no air in the system, that's why the overflow bottles fill from the bottom or have a siphon tube that goes to the bottom from the top of the tank internally. With the tube submerged in coolant, only coolant can get sucked back to the system. You have been misled if you think the top tank of the rad serves that purpose, or my eyes are not seeing a separate tank on your picture. Overflow hoses push expanded fluid out to the ground and when the engine cools, the cap allows air to be sucked back in as it develops a vacuum in the cooling system. Overflow bottles are the best choice for coolant expansion and recovery.

You are confusing overflow with recovery systems. What you are describing is a recovery system where the radiator is filled to the cap. Expanding coolant flows into the recovery tank and then is drawn back into the radiator as it expands just as you say. Not sure when they went to that system, but my '69 does not not have it. The overflow tube simply vents to ground (in the event of an overheat). As long as the coolant in that top tank is above the tubes, it is at a sufficient level for max cooling. More will not help a thing. The upper tank IS an expansion tank. If you fill it to the top, it will expel the excess when it expands and seek it's max level.

Not sure what system the OP has, but since he said it has an "aftermarket" tank, I am assuming it was an add on and whether it is recovery or just overflow would depend on if the appropriate cap was installed with it. That said, whether it is needed or not depends on the type of radiator he has.

Montgomery Burk · Mar 13, 2017

Ranger16 said:
View attachment 403326 Does your radiator have a built in expansion tank on top like mine does? If so, there is no need for a recovery tank. If you DO need it, either you have an overheating problem or you are filling your radiator too full.

This picture should give you an idea of what I am talking about. The tank is probably only half full. The head space is for expansion.

yean my radiator is the same. The plastic tank on my car is dry-rotted and cracked. Don't have an overheating or overfill problem...just want to replace an item under the hood that is broken and non-functional.

Ranger16 · Mar 13, 2017

Montgomery Burk said:
yean my radiator is the same. The plastic tank on my car is dry-rotted and cracked. Don't have an overheating or overfill problem...just want to replace an item under the hood that is broken and non-functional.

I think you can add not needed to that.

Montgomery Burk · Mar 15, 2017

Dennis H said:
View attachment 403360 1 of 1. Gets me through Tech for Drag Racing. Inexpensive.

love it...lol. If I go this route it'll have to be a vintage mountain dew glass bottle though....

khryslerkid · Mar 15, 2017

The older "top tank" radiator had the tube on the neck of the tank to vent excess pressure that the radiator cap let off. It was routed to the ground, no tank.

The "cross flow" radiator, tanks on both sides, had the recovery tank. As the coolant heated and expanded, the excess coolant went into this tank. As it cooled down, it siphons the coolant back into the radiator. "Closed system".

With the top tank radiators, the tracks like to see a "catch can" on the vent hose as not to spill out on the track. You don't want to have this "catch can" act like a recovery tank or you will have an overfilled radiator. Make sure the hose or inlet isn't submerged in coolant in the tank that you use on this setup.

Malicious · Mar 15, 2017

I've got a glass Dr'Pepper Bottle as an overflow 'recovery system' Look great!

threewood · Mar 17, 2017

My 62 never had a overflow tank and I got tired of seeing puddles after shutoff so I made one. Tight space so I used a piecs of 2 1/2" exhaust pipe with the ends welded, holes on top for vent and overflow tube. Works fantastic, no more puddles and no topping off!

khryslerkid · Mar 17, 2017

threewood said:
My 62 never had a overflow tank and I got tired of seeing puddles after shutoff so I made one. Tight space so I used a piecs of 2 1/2" exhaust pipe with the ends welded, holes on top for vent and overflow tube. Works fantastic, no more puddles and no topping off!
View attachment 405113 View attachment 405114

I'm liking it!

I want one on mine too. The radiator I bought has the nipple on the neck pointing towards the drivers side. Might have to mount it on the outer part of the radiator support.

Nice job on the tank :thumbsup:

Ranger16 · Mar 17, 2017

threewood said:
My 62 never had a overflow tank and I got tired of seeing puddles after shutoff so I made one. Tight space so I used a piecs of 2 1/2" exhaust pipe with the ends welded, holes on top for vent and overflow tube. Works fantastic, no more puddles and no topping off!

Topping off is the reason you have puddles. If you over fill it, it will puke out the excess and seek it's own level. After that it should never overflow again.

After market radiator overflow reservoir

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