Looking for recovery tank recommendations

[mburger]

I am looking for a coolant recovery tank that is similar to something like shown.
I'm considering having one custom made if I thought the cost was only a little more than purchasing an existing tank style.
I have a working tank, just looking for something different that I think will look better and that "belongs" under the hood.
I did a quick edit on another tank picture and moved things around.
Anyone have any sources for something similar to this?

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=150907&d=1626470559

[NAZ]

Summit Racing has a large selection you should look at. Do you know what size you need?

[mburger]

Thanks. I searched on Summit’s site but I must have been using poor search terms.
Ideally, a 3”x10”, 4”x8” or similar. In a nutshell, just turn the standard vertical mounted tanks on its side.
I realize it’s important to have the height internally for expansion.
I was just looking at 3x10 and 4x8 end fill aluminum spun fuel tanks to possibly modify but now I’ll spend some quality time on Summit’s site.
Thank you!

[J R Jones]

I was just at the vintage race event at Elkhart Lake and was reminded of the old aluminum tank from 60-70s Corvettes.
https://www.corvettecentral.com/243105?gclid=CjwKCAjw3MSHBhB3EiwAxcaEu_W1MKM5BvuK0 adLE6PD9Stv_kHlcbawfPqn3jHbR2x9Na-BJC1c-hoCTggQAvD_BwE

Amazon has more than a dozen types of tanks.
jim

[Jim1855]

I've seen a few of the Harrison tanks in Cobras. Certainly didn't look out of place.
Jim

[rich grsc]

Two different devices, that work differently

[CraigS]

I use this. The 80-211 but any of them will work.
https://www.cantonracingproducts.com/categories/engine-coolant-tanks-accs/universal-coolant-recovery-tanks.html

[mburger]

Thanks Craig. I am using that exact one right now. When I get back home later this evening I’m going to post pictures of exactly what I am trying to do. Unfortunately what I’m looking for isn’t something that I’ve seen or at least that I’m aware of. If you take a typical expansion tank as supplied by FF, for example, and turn it on its side then add the filler on top and move the ports to the bottom.

[NAZ]

If you just have to use a configuration like your photo and can't find one, you can have a custom one built to your specs. That will be expensive but when we really want something then we can usually justify the cost. However, there is an advantage for a coolant recovery tank to be tall and skinny. A smaller surface area does not tend to splash around as much so the tank level can get higher before splashing out the overflow.

If you are picky about the look of the recovery tank under the hood, have you thought about locating it where it's less visible? One of the advantages of a recovery tank over an expansion tank is the former can be mounted some distance from the radiator. It could be mounted low on the firewall and still work. Every ~2.31 feet of water head is 1 PSI, so atmospheric pressure can lift coolant higher and farther than most people would guess.

[mburger]

If you just have to use a configuration like your photo and can't find one, you can have a custom one built to your specs. That will be expensive but when we really want something then we can usually justify the cost. However, there is an advantage for a coolant recovery tank to be tall and skinny. A smaller surface area does not tend to splash around as much so the tank level can get higher before splashing out the overflow.

If you are picky about the look of the recovery tank under the hood, have you thought about locating it where it's less visible? One of the advantages of a recovery tank over an expansion tank is the former can be mounted some distance from the radiator. It could be mounted low on the firewall and still work. Every ~2.31 feet of water head is 1 PSI, so atmospheric pressure can lift coolant higher and farther than most people would guess.

I honestly appreciate any and all replies to my sometimes ridiculous questions from everyone here, but damn I always learn so much or am reminded of things I should be thinking about when you post.
I knew a shallower tank meant less room to rise, however I hadn’t considered your other points. Sloshing and atmospheric pressure I hadn’t considered. I always thought the recovery tank should be level with the top of the radiator.

I pop the hood and the recovery tank just really bugs me. There’s likely 10 other things that everyone else would focus on, but I guess I could never leave well enough alone.

[65 Cobra Dude]

How about just powder coating your existing one black to make it disappear?

Henry

[mburger]

How about just powder coating your existing one black to make it disappear?

Henry

Yes, or maybe near chrome. Good suggestion and it’s at the top of my short options list. Also likely the least expensive.

[mburger]

Pics because I like pics. Who doesn’t?

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=150953&d=1626574638


https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=150956&d=1626575617

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=150957&d=1626577535

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=150958&d=1626577535

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=150961&d=1626577535

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=150960&d=1626577535

[Alan_C]

Take a look at the Canton website. You can quickly determine if they have a configuration you want or something similar. There is Moroso too, as well as others. If you can find one close to what you want, you can add any additional inlets/outlets after purchase.
I needed a coolant recovery tank for my Coyote powered restomod. The current Mustang GT uses a 4 liter tank in the Mustang GT. I did not find a suitable off the shelf tank, so I contacted Canton. The price was over double what a off the shelf tank of similar volume was going for, so I changed gears. I made up a design and had the basic parts cut out for me. The metals place bent the piece with the front and sides with a nice soft bend. I used 1/8 inch thick aluminum, thicker than off the shelf products which are about 0.1 inches thick. I had a local guy weld up the seams which I ground down for a nice finished appearance. You can buy the filler neck and cap from Canton or Summit and as well as all the bungs. Even building it myself I probably have $200 invested with the tank, bungs, and hose barb fittings.

[mburger]

Take a look at the Canton website. You can quickly determine if they have a configuration you want or something similar. There is Moroso too, as well as others. If you can find one close to what you want, you can add any additional inlets/outlets after purchase.
I needed a coolant recovery tank for my Coyote powered restomod. The current Mustang GT uses a 4 liter tank in the Mustang GT. I did not find a suitable off the shelf tank, so I contacted Canton. The price was over double what a off the shelf tank of similar volume was going for, so I changed gears. I made up a design and had the basic parts cut out for me. The metals place bent the piece with the front and sides with a nice soft bend. I used 1/8 inch thick aluminum, thicker than off the shelf products which are about 0.1 inches thick. I had a local guy weld up the seams which I ground down for a nice finished appearance. You can buy the filler neck and cap from Canton or Summit and as well as all the bungs. Even building it myself I probably have $200 invested with the tank, bungs, and hose barb fittings.

Would love to see pics if you have any. Good idea looking direct at Canton.

[CraigS]

A combination of black and moving it may help you out. You can make a plate and mount it on the right side of the big X frame tubes. I'd put it close but not right under the T filler in the upper rad hose. Find some black paper and wrap it like a Christmas present and bungee cord or electrical tape in position to see if you like it there.

[mburger]

Well, after all the helpful replies, I decided to try a different vertical recovery tank.
I still need to add a second strap to the tank and clean up the old mounts, but I’m headed in the right direction. I like this much better.

Original tank

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=150926&d=1626518576

New tank (ok I spilled a little coolant on the floor)
There’s a sight tube on the side of the tank not seen in the pic.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=151097&d=1626911454

[first time builder]

Just installed a Canton like that yesterday in Wastehaulers MK 3 that I built 15 yrs ago. Still had the breeze plastic tank.

[rich grsc]

Does that have a tube that goes to the bottom of the tank?

[egchewy79]

Does that have a tube that goes to the bottom of the tank?

agreed. unless there's an internal tube going to the bottom from that upper hose, the fluid won't be drawn back into your coolant system when it cools down. if there's a hole in the bottom of the cylinder, the hose from your T-piece/radiator cap should be going to the bottom with the top hole as the overflow hose.

[NAZ]

Looks like the guys covered the location of the recovery hose connection. It's suspect because of the location -- the recovery hose is usually attached to the bottom of the tank and tanks with an overflow may have a port located on the upper sidewall of the tank. Mix these up and you won't recover coolant when the system cools. The only thing I might add is that beside the coolant siphoning from the bottom of the tank, there must also be a vent to atmosphere. The vent is typically in the cap but not always. Sometime there is a separate overflow that also acts as a vent. Remember, that it's atmospheric pressure that pushes the recovered coolant back into the radiator.

It may just be the photo, but it appears that the new recovery tank is smaller than the one it replaced. Are you sure it's big enough for your application? The coolant expansion can be calculated so you don't have to guess. I calculated the expansion of my Hot Rod's coolant at a bit over 30oz based on my coolant capacity of 4.8-gallons and the fill temp / max operating temp. I usually add a fudge factor to that plus a reserve amount that remains in the tank when cool so I never suck air into the system. So my system will operate fine with a 1.25 quart tank but a 1-quart recovery tank would be pushing it.

But the recover tank size is application specific so there is no one size fits all. Now, there's not much downside to using a larger tank but you really don't want to go smaller.

[mburger]

Looks like the guys covered the location of the recovery hose connection. It's suspect because of the location -- the recovery hose is usually attached to the bottom of the tank and tanks with an overflow may have a port located on the upper sidewall of the tank. Mix these up and you won't recover coolant when the system cools. The only thing I might add is that beside the coolant siphoning from the bottom of the tank, there must also be a vent to atmosphere. The vent is typically in the cap but not always. Sometime there is a separate overflow that also acts as a vent. Remember, that it's atmospheric pressure that pushes the recovered coolant back into the radiator.

It may just be the photo, but it appears that the new recovery tank is smaller than the one it replaced. Are you sure it's big enough for your application? The coolant expansion can be calculated so you don't have to guess. I calculated the expansion of my Hot Rod's coolant at a bit over 30oz based on my coolant capacity of 4.8-gallons and the fill temp / max operating temp. I usually add a fudge factor to that plus a reserve amount that remains in the tank when cool so I never suck air into the system. So my system will operate fine with a 1.25 quart tank but a 1-quart recovery tank would be pushing it.

But the recover tank size is application specific so there is no one size fits all. Now, there's not much downside to using a larger tank but you really don't want to go smaller.

I agree it looks like this will not work as a recovery tank however there is a hose connected to the input inside the tank that goes to the bottom of the tank. Also, if needed, there is a plug in the bottom of the tank and I can thread a connector on that and feed it from the bottom. Regarding the available space for expansion, I did not calculate it but using your calculations I definitely will. There is a breather hole in the cap As well.
However there is a more important or at least higher priority issue that no one has caught and I am sorely disappointed in you all for not catching it. :-)
I can’t close the hood because the gas strut hits the cap. LOL modifications to the mounts forthcoming! (After I do some math)

[Alan_C]

Here is a picture of the recovery tank I made. Not a great picture as it does not show the detail of the fittings. The volume of the tank is just shy of 4 quarts. Size was determined by the OEM tank volume of 4 litres.
1. On top is a Canton filler neck with their billet cap. Venting pressure is 16 psi.
2. On the bottom is a 90 degree 3/4 inch fitting that sends coolant back to the engine.
3. On the engine side which you can see, there is a 90 degree fitting, 3/8 as I recall.
4. On the radiator side which is well hidden is a inlet from the radiator blow off vent near the top of the side wall.
5. The blow off from the recovery tank vents to the ground.
So all together, 4 components added to the tank.

https://i.imgur.com/3DBcGoGl.jpg

Now this installation is unique to my Coyote powered Mustang restomod. Both Canton and Moroso make recovery tanks, so start with their offerings first. If you can find one with the volume needed, modifying it should not be a big deal. In my case, the recovery tanks made for the Coyote did not fit where I needed the tank to go and generic tanks did not have the volume, so custom was necessary.

Here is a picture of the front of the engine bay with all the components in place. You can see there is little room left between the Coyote and the radiator.

https://i.imgur.com/YTlk7xVl.jpg

[NAZ]

Alan, sounds like you built a degas tank not a recovery tank. Two very different devices.

[mburger]

Alan, sounds like you built a degas tank not a recovery tank. Two very different devices.

I was thinking the same thing as soon as I saw the pressure cap on the tank. The tank isn’t at atmosphere.

With that coyote Alan, you don’t have room for much! Nice job making it work.

[Alan_C]

My expansion tank was modeled after a Coyote plastic "coolant reservoir". That's what Ford calls it. Coolant expansion from the block or released by the radiator will be recovered in the coolant reservoir. Yes it appears I have a degas tank which is also called a expansion tank. The interesting difference I note from the classic definition of an expansion tank is that, in the case of what I have built, both my radiator and expansion tank have pressure rated caps designed to release coolant when the calibrated pressure point is exceeded. According to the definition of and expansion tank, the radiator does not have a cap, just a connection to the expansion tank. So with this, I need to consult Ford Performance and C&R, the maker of the radiator, to determine if I should install a cap on the radiator that does not have a pressure sensitive relief valve.

[NAZ]

Alan, having two pressure relief valves is superfluous in a system with a(n) expansion tank (AKA degas tank) as the pressure cap in these systems acts only as a safety valve and should never release pressure in a properly designed and operating system. In these systems, an air space above the liquid level is designed to accommodate coolant expansion without any coolant being discharged from the closed loop.

In a radiator a pressure cap also acts as a safety valve but in addition it allows expanded coolant to transfer to and from a recovery tank.

[first time builder]

The canton tank I used has a fitting on bottom that goes to the rad. There is a sight glass on side and an overflow fitting high on the side also.