Expansion tank mounting and headers

[Toy4Hal]

I'm installing a radiator expansion tank in my 62 'Vette (yet another 'feature" that was missing when I bought her) . In reviewing the diagrams it appears the tank bracket is secured at the bottom to the exhaust manifold. However, with the headers in place, I can't get the bracket to the manifold bolts. Does someone make a bracket for this or is this a "build your own" type project? Or,,,,, am I just misreading the diagram (wouldn't be the first time):confused ?

Thanks again.

Hal

 

[WayneC]

I don't have a C1 to look at, but from catalogs, etc, it would appear to me that the expansion tank bracket is supposed to be attached via the 2 center-port bolts on the exhaust manifold. I suspect the bolts on the headers go into a relatively thin plate, utilizing shorter-than-stock bolts, whereas the stock bolts are through a fat casting so the bolt heads are out away from the head nearly as far as the thickness of the manifold. I don't see how you CAN attach the bracket to the header except by using the stock-length bolts and shimming them (between the header and the tank bracket) with a fat steel sleeve or a stack of washers or oversized nuts.... it may require even longer than stock bolts depending on the design of your headers. An better alternative, as you've said, is an adapter/bracket (less bending stress on the header bolts), but I'm not aware of anybody who makes one (Hedman only offers generator brackets, which attach to the front port bolts)... looks like this IS a do-it-yourself project. You might want to take a look at those Hedman brackets to see if you can adapt one or two of those (ie, cut, splice/weld):

http://www.hedman.com/pages/hedmanmain.html

You can always convert back to stock manifolds, or maybe even adapt the later C2 fender-mount expansion tank to your car.

 

[Toy4Hal]

Wayne, thanks for the info. The hedman bracket certainly has potential -- it can at least get me out of the header area to be able to look at alternatives. I'll see if i can find some.


Thanks again.
Hal

 

[Toy4Hal]

Wayne, your guidance has helped me make it happen. The Hedman bracket allowed me to get away from the header pipes.:cool Then I was able to "fabricate" another 2" bracket to get me further away from the headers (as the ram horn head mounting point would have been). It all appears to work. I'll know more once I get to drive her a bit (once the seats come back from the ulpolsterers :eyerole). Does the list of projects ever end? I gues not -- that's the fun in these vintage cars!

Thanks again!

 

[WayneC]

You're welcome, glad I could help!