Cooling System

[Loeblich]

Hello! My name is Javier Alvarez, I live in a very hot place (Maracaibo, Venezuela), and beside my dream of having a A/C System, I want to install a Cooling System with "feedback" (what is the right name for that?). I'm talking about the bottle that it is connected to the radiator, I have an open system, and want to change it to a closed system.
I have an 73' opel manta, and I have seen some "closed systems", trying to understand it to adapt it to my manta. Does anyone has pictures of their cooling system? I think GT's, Manta's, or any other 70's opel cooling system would work. And one last thing: Are there some rules that I need to have in mind to make the change? Or is it as simple as it seems?

Please, excuse my bad english, and thanks!

[markandson]

I believe you are refering to what Opel GT Source calls a 3 core heavy duty cooling system, with an overflow bottle, that is triangular in shape. Somewhere on this site there are some pictures of it but I do not remember where. Either call or email opelgtsource.com and they will be able to sell you the entire system, but it is somewhat expensive. Probably about $400.00 for the whole thing.

[Loeblich]

Thanks for the reply markandson, I read it half an our ago, and I have been trying to find a picture to see whats that "3 core heavy duty cooling system". But I have not found any.
Is it possible (or usefull) to connect an overflow bottle to the Manta's standart radiator? Does anyone has a picture of it?

[RallyBob]

Yes, you can add a surge tank for extra capacity. You will need another fitting at the top of the radiator though, you can't use the overflow fitting since that only discharges coolant....it does not recover the fluid when the engine cools down because of the design of the radiator cap.

A common (cheap) tank to use is from any water-cooled VW.

[namba209 (R.I.P.)]

A three row heavy duty radiator is nothing more than removing the 2 row standard radiator core from the upper and lower tanks and adding a three row core in its place. Most radiator shops should have the capability. HTH.

[tekenaar]

Yes, you can add a surge tank for extra capacity. You will need another fitting at the top of the radiator though, you can't use the overflow fitting since that only discharges coolant....it does not recover the fluid when the engine cools down because of the design of the radiator cap.

A common (cheap) tank to use is from any water-cooled VW.

Well, hate to argue with the professor, but I've been doing just that for the last ~25 years by merely changing the radiator cap to one designed for coolant recovery (Stant SP-21, 14psi) and adding any junkyard overflow bottle.

The SP-21 and others that are designed for coolant recovery differ from the non-recovery caps by providing an additional valve in the center of the cap which opens under the vacuum created when the radiator coolant cools. Hot, expanding coolant flows into bottle; cooling, contracting coolant (read - forms vacuum) gets sucked into radiator through extra valve in cap.

[opelwasp]

tekenaar what car did you get that overflow bottle from it looks a perfect fit.

[hrcollinsjr]

Psst! Otto, some hung over german put your alternator on the wrong side. Was there a reason other than symmetry that you did this? Or was it part of an attempt to equalize the left/right weight distribution.

Harold

[RallyBob]

Well, hate to argue with the professor, but I've been doing just that for the last ~25 years

No argument from me, we're just talking about different things. With a surge tank it is constantly part of the circulation of coolant, and is a high point in the system for purging air bubbles. A recovery-type overflow is not.

I mixed up my decription though, that's certainly my fault.

For the surge tank you also need a connection to the water pump or any other high-flow area of the cooland system (I use the thermostat housing personally).

I apologize if I lent confusion to the issue!

Bob

[tekenaar]

Psst! Otto, some hung over german put your alternator on the wrong side. Was there a reason other than symmetry that you did this? Or was it part of an attempt to equalize the left/right weight distribution.

Harold

Neither, was fabricated as part of my '69 Kadett's A/C installation.

[Loeblich]

I'm sorry because I could not answer before.
But your posts where very useful. I'm going to try changing the radiator cap, and getting an overflow bottle, and see how it works.
But one question, does that really cools down the car, even a little bit, or it is more like a system to avoid coolant waste?

Thanks again!

[namba209 (R.I.P.)]

But one question, does that really cools down the car, even a little bit, or it is more like a system to avoid coolant waste?
Thanks again!

That's about how the coolant recovery works. It keeps the coolant within the radiator, rather than dumping it out when thermal expansion does its thing. Be advised anti-freeze is toxic to animals and they seem to like it. So the recovery system is important if you have pets.