OK, last week my black nylon header tank started to leak around the chrome seal. I looked at a few options (new nylon, Spec-R, Forge and a later spec alloy unit). Rang around and found an MY97+ alloy unit at essex scooby breakers, delivered for £40!!!

I then looked for a fitting guide on here, but there wasn't one! So here we are...


1.) Firstly, you can see the water marks on the old black nylon header tank -



2.) Undo the 13mm bolts holding the tank in place and take off the pipes. Coolant will leak from the pipes but will stop shortly afterwards.



3.) Bay should then look like this -



4.) Original on the right, alloy one on the left. You can see how the mounting holes are further apart. There is also more obstruction on the alloy tank underneath, it fouls part of a bracket.



5.) Using a junior hacksaw, saw off the thread from the bottom bracket.



6.) Using a phillips head screwdriver, take off the bracket, only 2 bolts.



7.) Drill a hole big enough for a bolt of your choice to go through -



8.) Put a bolt through and tighten with a nut on the other side -



9.) Fix the bracket back in with the original two bolts.



10.) Due to the positions of the hoses being different on the header tanks, the larger pipe that connects to the bottom of the nylon tank has to be lengthen to be able to fit onto the alloy tank. I used a piece of 15mm copper pipe and some spare pipe I received with the tank. You could buy some hose from your local motor factors if needed -



11.) Attatch the extra bit of hose to the copper pipe -



12.) Place the alloy tank in position and connect all of the rubber hoses to their relevant location -



13.) I used large 'mechano' like strips and 2 nuts & bolts to hold the alloy tank in place -



14.) When you have tightened the brackets and tank in place it should look like this -



Remember to fill up your water system and check it after a short drive!

Of course there are other ways of fitting the tank, this is just the way I did mine!

Hope this guide helps somebody!!!!!

Nick

 

nice guide

 

i was warned that the old tank had a one way valve in one of the pipes and removing it may cause a problem of the system over pressurising.i have since had the rad split dont know if its connected or rad just went with age.i think the valve is in the tank housing in one of the front 2 pipes .i dont know if its worth fitting a one way valve in one of the pipes or not? or will not running one cause problems ? anyone with an answer to this?
cheers rob

 

dont know about the valve I ve not seen one. The rads are generally weak anyway and do go on the end tanks with age. I have just recently changed my second one!

 

good guide mate,iv just fitted an alloy one myself,more or less same as yours would like more info on the oneway valve on the old tanks if anyone knows

 

I've still got the old tank, I'll break it tonight and report back!

 

OK - took the chrome strip off and used a chisel to split the old nylon tank in 2. And the answer is........ YES! There is a 1-way valve in the tank (circled in red). It connects to the hose that goes around the front of the car (above the radiator) and connects to the bottom of the expansion tank (In nearside wing). -

 

does anyone know if the alloy ones have the same valve or not,and what is the dangers of using the alloy one if it dosent have the valve