Radiator Expanson Tank

[Jeff C.]

Why does an aluminum radiator require a expansion tank but copper radiators don't? Never thought about it until now when I'm getting an original 62 tank repaired.

[Michael W.]

Re: Radiator Expanson Tank

Very simple but not obvious. The copper/brass rads have integral expansion tanks, the aluminum rads don't simply by virtue of their construction.

Post '72 Corvette rads have no expansion tanks at all- they switched to coolant recovery (overflow tank) configuration.

[Joe L.]

Re: Radiator Expanson Tank

Very simple but not obvious. The copper/brass rads have integral expansion tanks, the aluminum rads don't simply by virtue of their construction.

Post '72 Corvette rads have no expansion tanks at all- they switched to coolant recovery (overflow tank) configuration.

Mike----


All 1973-82 Corvettes used no external supply tank, as you mention. However, all 1973-82 Corvettes used radiators with integral tanks and filler, so they needed no external supply tank irregardless of the introduction of coolant recovery tanks for the 1973 model year.

[Joe L.]

Re: Radiator Expanson Tank

Why does an aluminum radiator require a expansion tank but copper radiators don't? Never thought about it until now when I'm getting an original 62 tank repaired.

Jeff-----


Just as Mike describes, radiators without integral tanks require an external supply tank. This includes ALL aluminum radiators originally used on Corvettes from 1960 to 1972. The 1960-61 aluminum radiators used a supply tank that was attached to the radiator but still qualified as an external supply tank.

All 1953-82 Corvettes with copper brass radiators were designed with integral tanks. However, although equipped with integral tanks, 1969-72 Corvettes with big block and copper brass radiator also used an external supply tank and had no integral filler. This was the ONLY Corvette with a copper brass radiator to use an external supply tank. So, these were the only Corvettes to have BOTH integral and external supply tanks. At least, they were the only Corvettes to have integral and external supply tanks UNTIL 1990. Then, "history repeated itself".

[Jeff C.]

Re: Radiator Expanson Tank

Thanks everyone!