thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
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thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Yesterday after finishing installing my polished plenum and valve covers I noticed the coolant overflow tank looked pretty cruddy. I thought i I could take it off, I could clean it out inside and out and make it look better.
Well, I got under the passenger side wheel well to remove that nut that can't be gotten to from the top, and sure enough, the stud was spinning. There is NO WAY to hold it from the top side, and not enough room on the bottom to grab it with a pair of needle nose vice grips, because the nut did back off enough so it's not tight, but not loose either... the whole stud is spinning
why in the world did they have to plant a stud in PLASTIC? The design was perfectly fine before 89, but somebody couldn't leave well enough alone and made the design stupid
Oh well, so now I have a nice new one on the way, and I'll have to destroy the old one to get it off.... brilliant
here's a pic of the one I bought off ebay, you can see the issue with the stud
Well, I got under the passenger side wheel well to remove that nut that can't be gotten to from the top, and sure enough, the stud was spinning. There is NO WAY to hold it from the top side, and not enough room on the bottom to grab it with a pair of needle nose vice grips, because the nut did back off enough so it's not tight, but not loose either... the whole stud is spinning
why in the world did they have to plant a stud in PLASTIC? The design was perfectly fine before 89, but somebody couldn't leave well enough alone and made the design stupid
Oh well, so now I have a nice new one on the way, and I'll have to destroy the old one to get it off.... brilliant
here's a pic of the one I bought off ebay, you can see the issue with the stud
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
so glad i have an 88. What price did you pay for the new one?
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Wow. Dope price, theyre trying to charge me $34 per tank for shipping to Canada. It sucks big time.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Probably saved $.50 in the production so some pencil pusher decided that was the way to go!
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Just went to my dealer, and for the coolant resevoir they want $34 cnd which isnt bad, but the windsheild washer tank they want $63. wtf, that's pricey as hell
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Car: 89 rs, 86 Trans Am
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
some washer tanks have the pump built into them, which is why they are a lot more
you check ebay? there's also vendors here on TGO that have them for good prices, but not quite as good as the deal I got. I also went with ebay because they hada very good picture of the tank for my car, not a generic picture
you check ebay? there's also vendors here on TGO that have them for good prices, but not quite as good as the deal I got. I also went with ebay because they hada very good picture of the tank for my car, not a generic picture
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Car: 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Ya, im dealing with a guy on ebay, seeing if he can give me a break on shipping. Seems to be going well.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Hey I'm having the same problem right now too. Do you have a link to the ebay page? I can't find it. Thanks!
Is it possible to install a pre-1989 tank into the car to avoid this in the future?
Is it possible to install a pre-1989 tank into the car to avoid this in the future?
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
don't know about the earlier tanks... I would imagine there would be away to make it work, but I didn't try
here's the one I bought
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/89-90...item335a60aea4
turns out this one is probably a few bucks cheaper when you include the shipping cost
http://www.moderndaymuscle.com/inc/sdetail/771
here's the one I bought
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/89-90...item335a60aea4
turns out this one is probably a few bucks cheaper when you include the shipping cost
http://www.moderndaymuscle.com/inc/sdetail/771
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
the only reason it would get messed up is if the nut won't back off the threads. Im not sure why the threads on mine were so messed up, but if I had soaked the threads in PB blaster before I started, the stud might not have started spinning
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
It's obvious dude.....
When the stud "breaks, GM get to sell a whole new unit. $34 vs you using a nut & bolt you already have floating around in your garage.
When the stud "breaks, GM get to sell a whole new unit. $34 vs you using a nut & bolt you already have floating around in your garage.
Last edited by Stephen; 03-06-2010 at 11:38 PM.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
I got rid of the eyesore factory unit and installed this:
Only cost $10 bucks at Advance.
I personally think my engine bay looks soooo much better without that:
Only cost $10 bucks at Advance.
I personally think my engine bay looks soooo much better without that:
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Looks great. I'd try and find a black cap though...
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Yeah, I'd like to change the cap... I might change the unit all together eventually, but at the time 10 bucks seemed like a no brainer to get rid of my nasty factory one.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
After 21 years, things deteriorate. I'd say it did its job by staying in place... even when you wanted it out If it's any consolation, cleaning the old one wouldn't get you anywhere near the look of a new replacement. The plastic itself discolors over time.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Is that supposed to be for the windshield washer? If so.....How do you pump the water to the wiper blades?
Looks like you took out the radiator overflow, which is what is on the other side. The stock windshield washer tank is still there.
If that for the radiator overflow/catch...Its on the wrong side.
Looks like you took out the radiator overflow, which is what is on the other side. The stock windshield washer tank is still there.
If that for the radiator overflow/catch...Its on the wrong side.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
I've seen people take a combo coolant/washer fluid bottle from other vehicles and relocate it to where the canister used to be. Looks better and probably less expensive.
I probably have some of the later model washer bottles in a box somewhere if anyone is interested. They probably need to be cleaned up though.
I probably have some of the later model washer bottles in a box somewhere if anyone is interested. They probably need to be cleaned up though.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
I've seen people take a combo coolant/washer fluid bottle from other vehicles and relocate it to where the canister used to be. Looks better and probably less expensive.
I probably have some of the later model washer bottles in a box somewhere if anyone is interested. They probably need to be cleaned up though.
I probably have some of the later model washer bottles in a box somewhere if anyone is interested. They probably need to be cleaned up though.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Is that supposed to be for the windshield washer? If so.....How do you pump the water to the wiper blades?
Looks like you took out the radiator overflow, which is what is on the other side. The stock windshield washer tank is still there.
If that for the radiator overflow/catch...Its on the wrong side.
Looks like you took out the radiator overflow, which is what is on the other side. The stock windshield washer tank is still there.
If that for the radiator overflow/catch...Its on the wrong side.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Radiator...coolant......Same thing.
And it is going to hook up to the radiator how? Where? The connection is on the other end.
And it is going to hook up to the radiator how? Where? The connection is on the other end.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
You're putting way too much thought into this. It hooks up to the radiator the same way as the factory one did... With a hose. It's just a slightly longer hose to reach the further distance.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Let us know how it actually works, when the car starts to overheat.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
I wasn't going to say anything, but I think that aftermarket mod looks cheap, like something you would buy at the container store for holding dried pinto beans in. GM's design may be flawed because of the stud design, but I never thought of it as ugly, and a clean one looks nice in the engine bay
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
I wasn't going to say anything, but I think that aftermarket mod looks cheap, like something you would buy at the container store for holding dried pinto beans in. GM's design may be flawed because of the stud design, but I never thought of it as ugly, and a clean one looks nice in the engine bay
This is an old pic i found when i still had the L98 and the explorer overflow box
here's how it looks now... not as close up of a picture though.
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Car: 89 rs, 86 Trans Am
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
that does look nice... but do you not have an overflow at all?
In the container store pic, the in/out hose is at the TOP of the bottle... that might work for a pressure outlet, but how would it then suck coolant back into the tank?
In the container store pic, the in/out hose is at the TOP of the bottle... that might work for a pressure outlet, but how would it then suck coolant back into the tank?
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
i found better pictures of when it was just done
Last edited by JeremyNYR; 03-12-2010 at 09:31 AM.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
I have a small overflow mounted right next to the radiator on the passenger side, it's black and you can kind of see it right next to the radiator cap in the one picture. I wish it were a bit bigger because the capacity is barely more than what's needed to compensate for expansion and contraction in the system. The hose is from the bottom on mine (as it should be!) and there is a vent on top.
Last edited by JeremyNYR; 03-12-2010 at 09:35 AM.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Dangit! 58mark pointed out the flaw in Jr.'s $10 overflow tank! I was waiting to see how long it would take Jr. to figure out that there was no way for the coolant to RETURN to the radiator!
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Car: 1991 Formula 350, 2002 Grand Prix G
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Lots of great ideas here, but what's the bottom line. The part costs around $30.00. When are you going to need to replace it AGAIN? It's not a $300.00 item that takes 1 1/2 hours to install. Yeah I see your point about the hold down bolt spinning around, but I changed mine (1991 Formula) about 2 years ago and it came right out with any trouble, so it must be Murphy's Law that only applies to certain items.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
hate to see anybody burn up an engine that way... especially when they bought a part that was supposed to be for that application.
Now, if he keeps using it and still burns up his engine, I won't have any sympathy
Now, if he keeps using it and still burns up his engine, I won't have any sympathy
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
before you rip JR apart, I'd say there's a very VERY good chance that bottle has an internal dip tube to recover coolant from the bottom of the bottle.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
The hose on the top of the bottle isn't for the radiator, that's a built in overflow for the overflow bottle. The hose that goes to the radiator is on the bottom, and you can see it in the picture.
My 350 runs at a cool 190 degrees even in 100 degree weather.
My 350 runs at a cool 190 degrees even in 100 degree weather.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
I dont see a hose on the bottom, if it's there, good for you
I'm confused about your first comment about the top tube being an overflow for the overflow bottle... what in world is it attached to if it's not the radiator?
I'm confused about your first comment about the top tube being an overflow for the overflow bottle... what in world is it attached to if it's not the radiator?
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
it just runs out onto the street. if there's too much pressure or too much fluid the thing will pop if you dont let it blow out.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
If the system is overfull (past the capacity of the overflow) it will drain through the clear hose onto the street as mentioned. That hose also acts as a vent to allow air in when coolant is pulled back through the system, and to expel air when the system overflows.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Well some engineer was probably sitting around one day wondering how to keep their job and decided if they make it out of plastic they can save a nickel.
On my RS I had they had a polished aluminum coolant/windshield combo tank that was about the size of a battery that went where the EVAP canister used to be. But i CANT FIND THEM anywhere! It was the perfect solution to those ugly resevoirs but I cannot for the life of me find one.
Its in the right corner of this pic
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...camaro_006.jpg
On my RS I had they had a polished aluminum coolant/windshield combo tank that was about the size of a battery that went where the EVAP canister used to be. But i CANT FIND THEM anywhere! It was the perfect solution to those ugly resevoirs but I cannot for the life of me find one.
Its in the right corner of this pic
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...camaro_006.jpg
Last edited by Rayzor32; 03-22-2010 at 01:26 PM.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Ya, that's clean as hell. I love it.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
I have the same coolant bottle as Jr. and it works great! There is a hose at the bottom, Duh. The top hose is the overflow hose.
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Re: thanks a lot GM... Brilliant
Thats a nice looking engine jr., if anyone finds out where they sell the rectangular aluminum overflow/windshield combo tank let me know!!
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