What is this tank for?

[xb-60]

Educate me...what is this tank for (on/near the firewall, top right in picture) ?


Cheers,
Glen

[tkb289]

Don't know ... wild guess ... something to do with oil vapor recovery from the crank case ?

Let's see what the experts have to say ...

[marco454v8]

Originally Posted by tkb289

Don't know ... wild guess ... something to do with oil vapor recovery from the crank case ?

Let's see what the experts have to say ...

Spot on! it's for oil vapour, known as the 'puke tank'!

Mark

[fordracing65]

Oil puke tank, keep oil out of the intake, you actually drain every so often, you would b surprised by whats inside after about a month.

[xb-60]

Thanks.
Yes, heard of a puke tank but didn't know what it was for. Thought maybe it was something for passenger's benefit.
Just curious here - anybody know what temp the oil condenses back to a liquid? I take it that when the vapour gets to a cooler place (inside the puke tank), it condenses and so doesn't go any further? Track oriented, obviously.
Cheers,
Glen

[FIA-ERA]

The tanks were originally installed mostly on the 427 cars. It also lets the trans breath too, I believe. The tanks are originally of a lawn mower engine. They are actually gas tanks that were on "Kohler" engines. One of those parts that probably said " Hey this will work". Not too many reproduce this piece but it is a neat part. Regards, Matt

[FIA-ERA]

Here you go: PhotoPost Classifieds - Puke Tank Cobra 427 Shelby Comp SC Oil Tank - Powered by PhotoPost Classifieds

All you could ever know

[mickmate]

Left side of tank you see is hooked to a breather plate at the back of the intake and a breather tube to the top of the trans. Right side of the tank has a high and low tube. Low one routes to the oil pan for condensed oil, high one connects to a draft tube for vapors that goes out under the car. This is illegal on modern engines as it caused an oil slick on the road (or track). People usually plumb it into a PCV instead of the draft tube.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by mickmate

Left side of tank you see is hooked to a breather plate at the back of the intake and a breather tube to the top of the trans. Right side of the tank has a high and low tube. Low one routes to the oil pan for condensed oil, high one connects to a draft tube for vapors that goes out under the car. This is illegal on modern engines as it caused an oil slick on the road (or track). People usually plumb it into a PCV instead of the draft tube.

So if vapours still go out under the car, what are you gaining with a puke tank?
Another question... if the gearbox isn't vented to a puke tank, does the gearbox build up pressure and push oil out past the seals?
Cheers,
Glen

[mickmate]

One other component I didn't mention is a basket of wire wool under the breather plate. That is the first effort at damping and condensing oil fumes. Most of the oil in the puke tank is cooling and condensing to drain back as a liquid. Theoretically only the excess escapes as vapor. Gearboxes and differentials have a lot of air and a little oil in them. When that heats up it expands alot and if you tried to contain it that sure tests any seals or gaskets. The comp Cobras used a tube up to a vented master cylinder reservoir in the trunk for the differential. Most cars use a little rattle cap type vent on the diff and trans to allow for expansion and not blow seals.

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by FIA-ERA

The tanks were originally installed mostly on the 427 cars. It also lets the trans breath too, I believe. The tanks are originally of a lawn mower engine. They are actually gas tanks that were on "Kohler" engines. One of those parts that probably said " Hey this will work". Not too many reproduce this piece but it is a neat part. Regards, Matt

There are about 10 thousands companies that make puke tanks, just google them.

[mickmate]

If you can find any amongst those 10,000 companies that make them with the lap seam around the middle I'd like to know about them. Original configuration ones are very difficult to find these days. Matts description is spot on.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by mickmate

If you can find any amongst those 10,000 companies that make them with the lap seam around the middle I'd like to know about them. Original configuration ones are very difficult to find these days. Matts description is spot on.

It seems to me that original Cobras had a lot of bespoke components on them, so a tank welded up from sheet aluminium alloy would look great and if done with a bit of style, could be made to look period correct....?
Cheers,
Glen

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by xb-60

It seems to me that original Cobras had a lot of bespoke components on them, so a tank welded up from sheet aluminium alloy would look great and if done with a bit of style, could be made to look period correct....?
Cheers,
Glen

Im surprised the Kirkhams havent made a billet aluminium one, I think it would look nice.

[Jamo]

Us old folks recall the black stripe down the middle of highway lanes...when road draft tubes were commonplace, if not downright standard until pcvs came along.

The amount of wet vapors aren't going to cause much in the way of dampness on track.

As noted above, the oil is routed back to the pan.

There was actually a line all the way back to the rearend, which had a T off to the trans, and then up to the tank. Generally speaking, given the uphill and lengthy nature of the rearend/trans tubing, only vapors made there way to the tank itself.

Mine is hooked up that way as delivered by Da Boys. The tank was the only breather I ran for the first couple of years. I added valve cover breathers later, but not really because I needed them...the old school setup works just fine.

[mickmate]

It seems to me that original Cobras had a lot of bespoke components on them

They were just a kit car from the git go, actually they called a repowered race car a "special" back then. Here's a few of the parts Original Cobra Parts

[xb-60]

Thanks Nick. That's a handy list.
Cheers,
Glen