Need help breaking the code on Expansion Tanks
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Huntsville AL
Need help breaking the code on Expansion Tanks
I need a new expansion tank for my 1969 427 435hp non AC car. All the catalogs list "Expansion Tank w/ Small Block", seems like there is no listing for a big block. The orginal setup was with a expansion tank and radiatior without filler neck. Am I missing something here? 
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Huntsville AL
Just got off the phone with Ecklers, they say that there is a difference between the Small Block and Big Block expansion tank and no one is making the Big Block expansion tank right now. Why does that not sound right???? Anyone got their AIM handy that can look up part numbers for a SB vs BB expansion tank (non AC)?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Huntersville NC
looking at my handy reference, 1969 435 hp (we determined in another thread that no bigblock solid lifter cars had A/C) used the aluminum tank, part #3016340. I don't see any indication that small block tanks were different from bigblock tanks. Some applications used a brass and some used aluminum. The 2 tanks are totally different, but they weren't used smallblock vs bigblock. You should be able to find a repro aluminum tank. They will even put a "correct date" on it if you want. 
wouldn't this be it?
68-72 EXPANSION TANK - DATED REPRO
New Harrison correctly dated aluminum expansion tanks are now available. 1961-1964 have the original pressed-in tube appearance and the 1964-1972 include original style welded tubes. All orginal dates are available. Most common dates, as Harrison tanks were run in batches and dated, were J (Sept), M(Dec) or C(Mar).
Product Number M-2416
wouldn't this be it?
68-72 EXPANSION TANK - DATED REPRO
New Harrison correctly dated aluminum expansion tanks are now available. 1961-1964 have the original pressed-in tube appearance and the 1964-1972 include original style welded tubes. All orginal dates are available. Most common dates, as Harrison tanks were run in batches and dated, were J (Sept), M(Dec) or C(Mar).
Product Number M-2416
Last edited by PRNDL; Aug 23, 2004 at 12:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Huntsville AL
PRND21, my thought were the same as yours. There is Brass (AC equip cars) and Alum (non A/C equip cars). A standard repo Alum tank should fit both BB and SB cars. Nothing I have been able to find points to anything being different in the way it installs. I need to make a couple of more phone calls. More to follow.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 421
Likes: 2
From: Long Grove, IL
Originally Posted by Mr D.
PRND21, my thought were the same as yours. There is Brass (AC equip cars) and Alum (non A/C equip cars). A standard repo Alum tank should fit both BB and SB cars. Nothing I have been able to find points to anything being different in the way it installs. I need to make a couple of more phone calls. More to follow.
Tom Dewitt (http://www.dewitts.com/) is the fellow who manufactures the repro tanks. I was chatting with him at the Bloomington Gold show this year and asked about the brass tanks. He said he was considering producing a repro tank and ironically enough had bought a used tank as a sample that I had been looking at but was too slow to make the decision on.
Jay
Mr D. I just reread your original post. If it is a NON A/C car you should have no problem. It just would not be "correct".
Last edited by griffths; Aug 23, 2004 at 01:20 PM.
