Mounting the expansion tank

stallion112 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-08-2006, 10:51 AM

I own a Kellison Stallion that is nearly all original. This means the expansion tank is located just on top of the water pump in front of the distributor. I am assuming that this was done so that the filler neck and bleed off hose are located at the highest point in the cooling system and evacuate any air in the system.

I've noticed that many Cobra's have the expansion tank located on the front cross member under the front opening of the hood. This would make the engine (or part of it) the highest point in the cooling system.

Does the expansion tank (filler neck with bleed off hose) really need to be the highest point in the system or can I move the tank to the cross member?

wizard · #2 (**permalink**) 11-08-2006, 04:19 PM

I assume you are talking about the expansion tank on a West Coast Cobra, son or grandson(?) of the Stallion. It is actually above the engine by just enough margin to keep it the highest point where it SHOULD be.
Is your tank similar to ours or more like the FE tank?
A picture of the tank would be helpful.

stallion112 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 07:49 PM

Please check the photo gallery under Stallion for a photo of my engine compartment. The tanks on the West Coast's seem to be lower than the top of the engine but maybe I'm wrong.

Thanks for your help,

wizard · #4 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 08:26 PM

Your cross member is the same as mine so no changes to the frame. Your engine seems to sitting at about the same level as my 460 (same size as your 429) BUT our tanks, while very similar in appearance, seem to differ in mounting structure. (I'd like to see how the tank is mounted to the block, water pump, or bracket. The WC uses a vertical flat bracket welded to the bottom that mounts flush with either the front or back of the cross member, not the top. This downward "fin", if you will, is long enough to raise the tank to an appropriate level above the engine. I'll try to get a pic posted tomorrow. It's not actually in the car at the moment, so I can get you a couple of angles.

Hope this is helpful.

wizard · #5 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 08:32 PM

PS In my gallery is a pic labeled "Hoss". If you look closely, you can see that "vertical fin" on the underside of the tank.
I also noticed the springs on you hood pins. What was your source? I need something just a little stronger than what I currently have, but it sure saves the hood scoop when raising the hood.

stallion112 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-10-2006, 06:13 AM

Thanks again for your help on mounting the tank.

As far as the hood springs go, I believe they are original since they were on the car when I bought it several years ago.

If I recall correctly, you should be able to purchase springs from a Mustang supplier like Tony Branda, etc. I'm not sure how stiff they are though.

Mine do a good job at lifting the hood enough so that you can slip a few fingers under the rear lip to raise the hood. I do however remove the pins when she's cooling down as a precaution to avoid stressing the fiberglass hood and preventing the paint from crazing. No damage after 8 years.......

stallion112 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-21-2007, 09:55 AM

I ended up relocating the expansion tank to the front cross member a couple of months ago and it works fine. The filler neck is about 1-1/2 inches below the thermostat housing. I fill through the overflow tank which is mounted below the expansion tank and it works fine.