Hose extension on bottom of radiator overflow?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Hose extension on bottom of radiator overflow?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, October 07, 2014 - 01:18 pm:

I keep my radiator filled so that when cold, the coolant just touches the bottom of the V-shaped baffle at the bottom of the filler neck.

On most drives, a very small amount of coolant drips out of the overflow and gets blown back onto the pitman arm ball joint. Over time, this contaminates the grease and starts to cause rust, so I find myself having to disassemble and re-grease the pitman arm ball joint more often than I otherwise would.

Has anyone else had this problem? I am considering adding a piece of rubber hose to the end of the overflow tube and routing the hose over towards the center of the car so that any overflow misses the pitman arm.

Or, am I just overfilling the radiator, and if so, what level do others keep their coolant at?

Thanks! :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Jablonski on Tuesday, October 07, 2014 - 01:40 pm:

Thermobarf Ford cooling will find it's own level in the radiator after a few runs. If you add coolant, it will barf out again.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Henry Petrino in Modesto, CA on Tuesday, October 07, 2014 - 01:46 pm:

I like to "overfill" mine a little. It satisfies my OCD urge to be SURE it's full. I too always get a little barf.

I can't imagine that adding a couple of inches of hose to extend the overflow tube a little would hurt anything. If it keeps it off the pitman, then you've solved your problem.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Barker - Dayton, OH on Tuesday, October 07, 2014 - 02:01 pm:

Seems like a good idea. That way even if you do overfill, the excess will be diverted way from the pitman. I'm planning to add this to mine, just in case. Thanks, Mark!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, October 07, 2014 - 02:42 pm:

Well, I took a close look at my overflow tube. It is brazed to the radiator sidewall at the very bottom of the tube, so there is no way to get a hose on the end. The bottom of the tube also ends about 1/4 inch above the frame crossmember corner brace, so even if I could get a hose onto the tube it be kinked shut.

In an earlier thread, somebody mentioned using the self-sticking silicone pipe wrap as a boot over the drag link ends, I think I'll give that a try. I'll try to wrap it enough to protect it while still allowing the full range of movement.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nathan Bright on Tuesday, October 07, 2014 - 03:11 pm:

Another option would be an overflow tank. Some hate em, some love em. Just a suggestion :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gene Carrothers Huntington Beach on Tuesday, October 07, 2014 - 03:50 pm:

I was able to separate the OF tube and attach a hose to mine so any coolant doesn't blow back on the undercarriage.
I've noticed since I installed some period front brakes that during braking quite a bit of coolant flows into the tank and some flows out the OF. The baffles seem to be quite low on the new radiators.
Installing an OF tank would not be in the original style so that's not an option.

YMMV


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, October 07, 2014 - 04:52 pm:

Here's what I ended up doing:

I tried the silicone pipe wrap idea, but didn't like the look, so I cut it off.

I decided to cut a "window" in a piece of hose and slide it under the overflow tube to catch the drippings:

hose1

hose3

I routed the hose towards the center of the car, but not all the way to the center because I don't want the drippings blowing back onto the wishbone ball socket.

hose2

I'll leave it on there for a while to see if it does any good. If not, I'll remove it and just keep greasing the pitman arm ball socket frequently. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Tuesday, October 07, 2014 - 04:58 pm:

Oops, posted the same pic twice, here is the third pic I meant to post:

pic1


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