Your ideas for improving Sprint header/expansion tanks.

[Sundowner]

In another thread I was told that the Sprint expansion tank is the weakest point in its cooling system.
So, I'm keen to see other neat and tidy solutions to fixing this weakness.
I'd like to use the standard tank, if possible, but I'm not against relocating it or modifying it? Having said that, neither am I against installing something else that is known to work well.
Cheers,
Rob

[GTS290N]

Edit: just seen earlier posts.

[ham204]

Speaking from 'Stag' experience (both cars have the same waterpump & location), it does seem to have a low lying expansion tank which needs raising so that any loss of coolant is resupplied by gravity. In my Stag I have fitted a Landrover Discovery 2 tank which is the same type as the Sprint but is fitted horizontally so that the head of water is always above the waterpump. A bonus would be to fit a low level alarm system to warn you if the water in the tank runs low, so indicating a leak somewhere. The TR7 header tank is similar to the Discovery tank but also has the sensor fitted so I would go for that now.
In my Stag I also opted for an electric water pump which has several advantages imo but also the drawback that if it cops out, it's towing back to home! In my Sprint I do not seem to have the same heating problem as in the Stag (where the same type of waterpump needed to cool two heads) so I'm leaving it for now. By the end of summer I might have a different conclusion!

[Carledo]

Club standard here seems to be the Volvo (850?) header tank as shown in Ian's post on your other thread, mounted high on the N/S turret to get the water level above the stat housing. this header has 2 pipes into it, one about 5/8" bore that you tee into the bottom rad hose and the bleed back pipe from the stat housing. It also has a low level warning indicator switch for added peace of mind.

Steve

[Sundowner]

Thanks for answering Gents.
I'm absorbing your suggestions. I like the idea of both the TR7 and the Volvo.
I do like the look of these though; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVBiDLUo_1Q
If one could be modified to fit the Sprint, I'd be very happy, but I don't want to spend $270 to find out that it wont fit.
A mate has one fitted to his Stag, its build quality is first class, he loves it. Apparently Stags had similar issues with their factory header/expansion tanks....is that right?
https://www.stagweber.co.uk/node/6
Thanks again,
Cheers,
Rob

[sprint95m]

Club standard here seems to be the Volvo (850?) header tank as shown in Ian's post on your other thread, mounted high on the N/S turret to get the water level above the stat housing. this header has 2 pipes into it, one about 5/8" bore that you tee into the bottom rad hose and the bleed back pipe from the stat housing. It also has a low level warning indicator switch for added peace of mind.

Steve

That is indeed Volvo 850. Inlet is 8mm bore and the outlet is 19mm bore.
(The Volvo that came after the 850 has a more rounded shaped tank.)


There are plenty of other tanks that will work, but Volvo's flush rather than proud screw top arrangement means
the (bottom of the) tank can be situated relatively high (to the engine).
Also new Volvo tanks are very cheap here in the UK.


Ian.

[sprint95m]

Thanks for answering Gents.
I'm absorbing your suggestions. I like the idea of both the TR7 and the Volvo.
I do like the look of these though; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVBiDLUo_1Q
If one could be modified to fit the Sprint, I'd be very happy, but I don't want to spend $270 to find out that it wont fit.
A mate has one fitted to his Stag, its build quality is first class, he loves it. Apparently Stags had similar issues with their factory header/expansion tanks....is that right?
https://www.stagweber.co.uk/node/6
Thanks again,
Cheers,
Rob

That tank won't fit a Sprint, although I dare say you could cut one up to make it smaller?
Also flitch panel positioning is unsuitable ideally because it is too low
(although it is true that some manufacturers do employ such arrangement but these have bleedscrews
fitted to hoses to try and avoid air locks (Renault 19)).


I have never studied the Stag but don't these have a radiator with a cap?
(I am pretty sure the Stag engined 2000 saloon prototype belonging to Canley Classics
(which I saw at Ingliston many years ago) had that?)



The car I looked at for ideas was the Saab 900 having been inspired to do so by Jon Jackson's use of a VW header tank on his Sprint.
(The Volvo tank has a better shape for fitment to a Sprint than the VW type and a bigger capacity too.)
My preference is for a screw fitting cap.



Ian.