Re: V8Q Coolant Tank R & R

[John Karasaki <johkar@teleport.com>]

Just replaced ours this past Wednesday.  Almost had a heart attack when the
plastic nipple on the radiator BROKE OFF!  This 5 minute job turned into 2
hours as I had to calm down then figure out what to do.

Used the threaded hollow rod from a bicycle (brake cable adjuster with hole
to allow the cable to slide through the middle of it).  Threaded this into
the broken off nipple.  Now this piece had a threaded hollow shaft in it.
Threaded this into the radiator.  Worked great!

BTW, the nipple that broke off appeared to be a threaded piece of plastic.
It is definitely a separate piece than the plastic radiator end caps.
Maybe it is available at the dealer.  Yeah, right!

I'm glad yours when smoother!

P.S.  I used a new coolant tank designed for the 5k.  It was $35.  The
nipple is in a different spot, but I just used a longer hose.  Halsey had
the tank for $30, but the Discount Auto was closer.


At 06:04 PM 8/7/98 -5, you wrote:
>
>Just got through changing the coolant tank reservoir
>on the V8Q.  Very simple job.  I noticed I might
>have a problem somewhere in the cooling system after
>following the posts here on the list about coolant
>temp, mine seemed a little high (110) at idle in
>traffic.  Everything looked fine but there was no
>pressure in the hose at temp. Small nipple at top
>of coolant tank had become brittle and self destructed
>inside the top overflow hose, metal pipe and all.
>
>
>New coolant tank ($52.00). A tip to save some time,
>if you take the coolant tank upper hose off tank
>and put it in a container that fits inside the
>engine compartment, you can squeeze the radiator
>hose, and the coolant tank hose will act like a mini
>syphon, draining the coolant out of the tank and not
>a drop on the ground or on your hands.
>
>I'd recommend checking the tank, and for those of
>you with older V8Q's it might be a good idea to
>change this as preventative maintenance.  The
>bottom metal sleeve on the tank was popped half
>way out too on mine, seems like 8 or 9 years is
>the useful life of this plastic part. (Although
>the one on the '84 5KS lasted almost 12.)
>
>BCNU,
>
>
>
>... Even a philosopher gets upset with a toothache.
>___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30
>
>