[DeTomaso] Radiator Filler/Expansion Tank ?

[Barry Seib]

Thanks Bill
I wanted to use the 1 1/4 copper for the tubes that need bends in them. I
already have the two long SS tubes, but I need to make new ones to connect
my new "dirt track" rad and my "Mike Trusty design" engine tubes. Just can't
find any in short lengths. The plumbing wholesalers won't cut a full roll
and I can't find a cvontractor that has any left over to sell me !
Are you going to try and bend the tube or use cast fittings for bends? I'd
rather bend them if I could get soft copper so the bends wouldn't be as
sharp. Hmm,... I wonder if we could anneal the hard suff ?
Barry
  -----Original Message-----
  From: SOBill at aol.com [mailto:SOBill at aol.com]
  Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 5:06 PM
  To: oldwheel at mts.net
  Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Radiator Filler/Expansion Tank ?


  Barry,

  I am using 1 1/4 ID x 1 3/8 OD hard copper tubing I got at Home Depot.

  I got into the copper because:

  1) My OEM tubes were pretty well wasted and also tended to hit the front
roll bar.

  2) I needed to make new tubes to clear the power steering rack I am
installing.

  3) Someday I may lay the radiator half way down and I would need to make a
second set of tubes for the front end. I wanted to use something available,
easy, and cheap.

  4) I want to replace the long tubes under the chassis and add drains to
the tubes.

  I have a bead rolling tool which certainly isn't for use on 1/8 inch thick
hard copper. But by upping the roller pressure a little bit at a time, it
rolled beautiful beads. You can also make good bead equivalents by soldering
small gauge solid copper electrical wire to the tubes. The bead is a
mechanical stop for the hose camps and doesn't need to be a water seal. See
the attached pic.

  Let me know what you do.

  Have fun,

  SOBill Taylor
  sobill at aol.com

  In a message dated 6/18/2008 10:43:35 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
oldwheel at mts.net writes:
    Hi Bill
    I'm using the Mike Trusty/John Taphorn cooling system mod. so need some
new
    tubes too.
    I wanted to use copper for the custom tubes between my engine and the
long
    straight SS tubes I have, but after searching for a year, I can not find
    anyone to sell me less than a full roll of soft drawn 1 1/4" copper
pipe. It
    is about $1000 for a full roll of 66ft. Even the hard copper pipe is
hard to
    find in 1 1/4" size and the fittings aren't very common either. Did you
find
    a source for it there? Are you using hard or soft copper pipe?
    Barry


    [DeTomaso] Radiator Filler/Expansion Tank ?
    SOBill at aol.com SOBill at aol.com
    Wed Jun 18 11:18:00 CDT 2008

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
    ---


    Garth,

    I have heard those concerns also.

    I don't think the main cooling tubes can radiate or conduct much  heat
into
    the interior.

    I am going convert the heater tubes to copper also and reroute them
under
    the car and straight up to the heater. In the engine compartment, I will
    attach
    the copper tubes to the back of firewall and use only two short  rubber
    hoses
    to connect tubes to the engine.

    Have fun,

    SOBill  Taylor
    sobill at aol.com












----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
  Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used
cars.