kim.mitchell1

I just returned from my second tour in Iraq and I'm about to get started on some new mods for my new ZO6. One of those mods is a color matched surge tank and I have a few questions. The service manual states to drain the coolant from the system prior to the removal/replacement/installation of a surge tank. Is it necessary to drain all the coolant or could you just drain enough to drop below the level of the hoses on the surge tank and then simply refill the drained coolant? Or, is it just easier to just go ahead and drain all the coolant?Does anyone have any useful tips or tricks for this install? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Kim

mr.radon

Nope, just drain till the fluid is out of the tank. I'm figuring they want to replace the entire fluid, if I recall they mention to refill with new.
Be sure to top off with extended life coolant.

Steve Snake Driver

Easier way. Get a set of vise grips, put a cloth around the hose out of the surge tank and use the vise grips to clamp it. Use a big radiator syringe to take most of the water out of the installed surge tank and then undo the clamp on the bottom. Have the new surge tank ready to install and then hook the hose onto the new tank and install...put water in the new tank and then take off the vise grips.

I took the old tank loose and held it above the level of the radiator to keep air from getting into the system. before I emptied it. Some rags and plastic wrap on the fender is a good safety fix.

Oh, Thanks for your service.
Spent a week or two at Fort Hood over 26 year career

the1n_Only

All you have to do is drain enough out of the system to drain the surge tank you will be good. I haven't seen your car around the area, but then again I do travel a lot. Good looking car

RUBYREDVET

I can't offer any tips but I can offer a big THANK YOU for your service to our country.

mr.radon

I also want to thank for your service.
My kid is on his second tour with the 82nd AB Div.
I spent a lot of time in Killeen, TX. Dad had two tours there. Loved boating and fishing on Belton Lake.

2k Cobra

Sorry, can't help on the tank, but thanks for your service!

kim.mitchell1

Joshua,
My car was driven minimally the past 6 months due to me being deployed. The car is my daily driver so you should see it around a lot more now that I'm back, at least until October. That is when I PCS to Ft. Irwin, CA. I think somebody at DA really likes me.LOL In my 18 years of service I've been to Korea twice, Ft. Polk, Fort Drum, Fort Hood three separate times, Fort Rucker and now Fort Irwin. I've seen all the "Premier" spots in the Army.

Kim

MChicado

I too cannot provide any additional insight with regards to your question; however, I can relate....retired AF after 22+ years of service!

Thank you to all that replied with a comment of "thanks" to the members of our armed services. We have stayed a free country and mostly safe country because of them! The world will always need Police and Armed Services as a form of deterrence (IMHO). Parents prove this time and time again--they apply a level of deterrence on the kids!!!

MC

Gregory0729

I am relatively a new vette owner. Bought a 98 vert. My surge tank is leaking around the nipple. I had the water pump replaced and then noticed that the nipple was cracked on the tank. I figure the shop did it during the repair. Is the tank replacement a pretty easy do-it-yourselfer? I am an okay shade tree mechanic, but don't want to bite off more than I can chew. Kudos to Kim.

kim.mitchell1

Gregory,
According the the service manual the removal/installation should be a snap. I believe the tank is only held on by two nuts so once the coolant level is drained low enough you should be able to disconnect the hoses and remove the two nuts to get the tank off. I think the most time consuming part will be draining and refilling the coolant. I'm waiting to install mine at the same time I install a few more mods in a week or so.

Kim