The Ford Barn

JayMan! · 03-02-2025, 11:34 AM

Recently I purchased a 36 Ford coupe and discovered there is an overflow tank mounted on the firewall. One of the plastic tubes from the bottom of the tank is connected to a port at the bottom of the radiator. The second tube from the top of the tank goes to the ground. I know the 36 Fords did not have overflow tanks so I was wondering if this tank may have been added as a coolant make up reservoir, and is the reason the tube coming out of the bottom of the tank is connected to a port added to the bottom of the radiator. Has anyone ever heard of this? Thoughts?

JayChicago · 03-02-2025, 09:45 PM

Never heard of this. Don't see how that can function. Any chance you can talk to whoever did that, find out what he was thinking?

tubman · 03-02-2025, 09:48 PM

Is it a pressurized system?

JayMan! · 03-05-2025, 01:49 PM

I don't know when this was added and I don't know the previous owner. I don't think it is a pressurized system. The radiator and cap appear to be the original. Appreciate input on this to understand why this was added.

JayChicago · 03-06-2025, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayMan!

so I was wondering if this tank may have been added as a coolant make up reservoir, and is the reason the tube coming out of the bottom of the tank is connected to a port added to the bottom of the radiator.

Been waiting for someone to offer an explanation for this Rube Goldberg tank, cuz I can't think how this could do anything to help the cooling system.

I would suggest you wait for warm weather, see if it has an overheating problem. Then remove all that stuff and see how it acts without the tank.

KiWinUS · 03-06-2025, 12:07 PM

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I have run a coolant recovery tank on my stock 36 for many years with both a stock radiator and a Walker pressurized radiator. So long as caps seal correctly recovery system works great with both pressurized or non.

Brian · 03-06-2025, 12:37 PM

Yeah Tony, I run one in my 35, but am reluctant to post about it on here on account of several members who vehemently oppose this modification.

KiWinUS · 03-06-2025, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

Yeah Tony, I run one in my 35, but am reluctant to post about it on here on account of several members who vehemently oppose this modification.

Haa Haa too funny Brian as I typed my reply and hit enter I said to my wife. Now let the experts chime in. lol.

JayChicago · 03-06-2025, 02:04 PM

But I bet you guys don't have the plumbing this way:

"tube coming out of the bottom of the tank is connected to a port added to the bottom of the radiator."

KiWinUS · 03-06-2025, 03:32 PM

We don’t Jay. Ours is in overflow. Is your tank mounted higher than top of radiator? Otherwise it would seem water should run out. Your system is not pressurized then. After thinking about it bet yours is connected to stock radiator overflow tube at bottom of radiator. Jay look closely again at where your hose attaches at bottom of radiator. I’m guessing it is connected to the stock overflow tube that runs from bottom of radiator up into your top radiator tank. If so that is exactly how mine is with stock radiator and I believe Brian’s also.

JayChicago · 03-06-2025, 04:13 PM

Good thought, KiWi. Then this would all make sense.

KiWinUS · 03-06-2025, 04:17 PM

Yes I got halfway through writing that last post and said to myself. That’s how mind is that’s absolutely correct.

KiWinUS · 03-06-2025, 04:18 PM

You can move that style tank out of sight if you want and it will still work.

Mart · 03-08-2025, 07:17 AM

The connection at the bottom of the radiator might be where the overflow tube comes out.

JayChicago · 03-08-2025, 11:20 AM

Yes, Mart. That is the point KiWi was making in #10: "look closely again at where your hose attaches at bottom of radiator. I’m guessing it is connected to the stock overflow tube that runs from bottom of radiator up into your top radiator tank."

That would make sense out of all this. Then the Original Poster just has the typical added overflow tank.

03-02-2025, 09:45 PM	#2
JayChicago Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Chicago Posts: 926	Re: radiator overflow or make up tank on 1936 Ford Coupe Never heard of this. Don't see how that can function. Any chance you can talk to whoever did that, find out what he was thinking?

03-02-2025, 09:48 PM	#3
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 11,633	Re: radiator overflow or make up tank on 1936 Ford Coupe Is it a pressurized system?

03-05-2025, 01:49 PM	#4
JayMan! Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2024 Posts: 6	Re: radiator overflow or make up tank on 1936 Ford Coupe I don't know when this was added and I don't know the previous owner. I don't think it is a pressurized system. The radiator and cap appear to be the original. Appreciate input on this to understand why this was added.

03-06-2025, 12:07 PM	#6
KiWinUS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Charlotte NC KiWi-L100 available here Posts: 3,262	Re: radiator overflow or make up tank on 1936 Ford Coupe Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I have run a coolant recovery tank on my stock 36 for many years with both a stock radiator and a Walker pressurized radiator. So long as caps seal correctly recovery system works great with both pressurized or non.

03-06-2025, 12:37 PM	#7
Brian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Masterton, New Zealand Posts: 3,998	Re: radiator overflow or make up tank on 1936 Ford Coupe Yeah Tony, I run one in my 35, but am reluctant to post about it on here on account of several members who vehemently oppose this modification. __________________ Unfortunately, two half wits don't make a whole wit!

03-02-2025, 11:34 AM	#1
JayMan! Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2024 Posts: 6	radiator overflow or make up tank on 1936 Ford Coupe Recently I purchased a 36 Ford coupe and discovered there is an overflow tank mounted on the firewall. One of the plastic tubes from the bottom of the tank is connected to a port at the bottom of the radiator. The second tube from the top of the tank goes to the ground. I know the 36 Fords did not have overflow tanks so I was wondering if this tank may have been added as a coolant make up reservoir, and is the reason the tube coming out of the bottom of the tank is connected to a port added to the bottom of the radiator. Has anyone ever heard of this? Thoughts?

03-06-2025, 02:04 PM	#9
JayChicago Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Chicago Posts: 926	Re: radiator overflow or make up tank on 1936 Ford Coupe But I bet you guys don't have the plumbing this way: "tube coming out of the bottom of the tank is connected to a port added to the bottom of the radiator."

03-06-2025, 03:32 PM	#10
KiWinUS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Charlotte NC KiWi-L100 available here Posts: 3,262	Re: radiator overflow or make up tank on 1936 Ford Coupe We don’t Jay. Ours is in overflow. Is your tank mounted higher than top of radiator? Otherwise it would seem water should run out. Your system is not pressurized then. After thinking about it bet yours is connected to stock radiator overflow tube at bottom of radiator. Jay look closely again at where your hose attaches at bottom of radiator. I’m guessing it is connected to the stock overflow tube that runs from bottom of radiator up into your top radiator tank. If so that is exactly how mine is with stock radiator and I believe Brian’s also.

03-06-2025, 04:13 PM	#11
JayChicago Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Chicago Posts: 926	Re: radiator overflow or make up tank on 1936 Ford Coupe Good thought, KiWi. Then this would all make sense.

03-06-2025, 04:17 PM	#12
KiWinUS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Charlotte NC KiWi-L100 available here Posts: 3,262	Re: radiator overflow or make up tank on 1936 Ford Coupe Yes I got halfway through writing that last post and said to myself. That’s how mind is that’s absolutely correct.

03-06-2025, 04:18 PM	#13
KiWinUS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Charlotte NC KiWi-L100 available here Posts: 3,262	Re: radiator overflow or make up tank on 1936 Ford Coupe You can move that style tank out of sight if you want and it will still work.

03-08-2025, 07:17 AM	#14
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 9,084	Re: radiator overflow or make up tank on 1936 Ford Coupe The connection at the bottom of the radiator might be where the overflow tube comes out.

03-08-2025, 11:20 AM	#15
JayChicago Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Chicago Posts: 926	Re: radiator overflow or make up tank on 1936 Ford Coupe Yes, Mart. That is the point KiWi was making in #10: "look closely again at where your hose attaches at bottom of radiator. I’m guessing it is connected to the stock overflow tube that runs from bottom of radiator up into your top radiator tank." That would make sense out of all this. Then the Original Poster just has the typical added overflow tank.