Ok I was wondering if anyone knew how to remove the coolant reservoir from the engine bay and what the steps are and any cons to doing it. I removed my washerfluid reservoir because the pump didn't work and I never really had any use for it. It was just wasted space and weight. Now my engine bay looks a little lopsided. I have seen cars with no coolant reservoirs and it looks great! How is it done and what needs to be done to the radiator when it is removed? Anyone done this before or seen it?

 

Any coolant seepage that happens wont be replaced, air will be getting in and out of the engine coolant system, rust will happen, you will always have a big air bubble in the radiator that volume would be much better utilizied being filled by coolant.
The biggest thing with a cooling system with air in it, is that the cooling system will not properly pressureize. Air flow over the radiator can be very poor for these cars at lower speeds and cooling system pressure can mean the difference between over heating and not.
If you really don't like the way the coolant tanks looks just relocate it. You could hide it under where the battery goes (on the passanger side). It will be a bit of a PITA to top it off but at least you will have it.

 

If you really dont like the way it looks, and you arent worried about cutting a hole in your battery tray, you can mount a 4th gen bottle on the passenger side. Just needs an oval shaped hole cut for it, and a little tweaking and it looks great. I ran it for awhile in my 87, but didnt cut the hole in my 86 because the car was too perfect and rust free. SO I just went with a new bottle, and a 4th gen washer bottle. Doesnt bother me much being lop side tho either.

J.

 

Got any pics of how this is done so I can get a better idea of how it looks???

 

Air won't get into the system and cause any rust or pressure issues - the radiator cap seals the system, and won't open the resevoir port on the radiator neck until the pressure reaches 16lbs PSI, at which point the pressure out won't allow any air in.

The con is, with no overflow tank, if the pressure builds, and coolant overflows, it will be lost on the ground. Also, as the system recools, there won't be any coolant going back into the radiator, so that 'lost coolant' is now permanently lost (that's where the air will enter), and your radiator could now be low. But - this happens rarely if the car is cooling properly with proper fan operation and proper thermostat, rarely is there any exchange between the resevoir and the radiator.

But coolant systems are no different today than they were in the 1970's when alot of cars had no resevoirs at all.

But - I say get rid of the big ugly thing. ANYTHING can be used for an overflow resevoir. I've literally seen folks use a 16oz Budweiser can. The trick, it that the overflow hose must be at the bottom of whatever you use - so you feed the hose into the top of the Bud can until it touches the bottom (and secure it there), or you tap the side of the Bud can and put a nipple on it at the bottom to secure the hose to. That way - the coolant (rather than air) is sucked back into the system as the pressure equalizes.

I'm using the Bud can as an example - to stress the point that ANYTHING that holds fluid and can have the hose reach the bottom of the container and stay there will work.

BNow - you can just buy any replacement coolant resevoir from any car, or even a generic one (all auto parts stores sell generic resevoirs that are much much smaller in size).

For myself, I swapped to carb, so I no longer needed the evap canister. I removed it, along with the coolant tank and the washer fluid tank, and I used a Ford Explorer unit - it's rectangular and the same size as the battery (so it looks good where the evap can was), and it has coolant overflow and washer fluid in the same rectangular black box. Cost me $35 brand new at Ford dealer - I just spliced my washer pump wires to the connector for the Ford washer pump, connected a longer rubber line from radiator around front of car to the driver side, and I was done.

 

Sweet but I would still like to see pics of anyones engine bay who has removed or relocated or got a smaller reservoir. Come on guys! I need some inspiration!

 

I'm also thinking about deleting mine, I've only driven it 2 weeks so far, but in that 2 weeks the overflow tank remained dry as a bone.

 

(posted in error)

 

USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION

4th gen Coolant Tank WITH TEMPLATE - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards
fourth gen coolant tank swap - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards
4th gen coolant and windshield washer bottles on your 3rd gen - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards
Overflow tank under battery tray? - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards
Another 4th gen washer/coolant bottle swap - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards
4th Ten Coolant Mod With Driver Side Battery? - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards
4th Gen Washer fluid tank in 3rd gen - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

 

I used soft scrub w/ bleach ans a cup of Pea gravel put the lid on and shake it. I did this for a couple days, came out clean.