Does anyone know of a source for the early brass radiator overflow tank?
Thanks
David
Thanks
David
WTB - early solid brass overflow tank
- Thread starter D Calkins
- Start date
only when somebody who has one sells it. i sold one about 3 weeks ago. if you buy one, plan on having it tested and resealed - they tend to leak over time.
search Craigslist and Facebook marketplace as well. I found someone selling one for $50 so picked it up to refurbish since mine is a bit worse for the wear.
It’s all about condition….
When I sold my Bav, I included a beautiful, never used, BMW OEM brass overflow tank in the sale. I will reach out to him and see if he wants to sell. He is on the board. I'll report back, he is out in the field in the middle of nowhere sometimes though and usually can take a while to get back to me. His name is Kevin. I'll have him reply here to you direct if he gets the message and wants to sell.
EDIT: Message sent...
EDIT: Message sent...
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I have one for sale. 200 euro. But it likely leaks.
I can have it desoldered and resoldered and 2k black painted, but i need to check the price.
Located in NL, so consider addional shipping+import taxes.
Pm me if interested.
Sourcing local US would always be cheaper.
I can have it desoldered and resoldered and 2k black painted, but i need to check the price.
Located in NL, so consider addional shipping+import taxes.
Pm me if interested.
Sourcing local US would always be cheaper.
They leak, they get dented, the bottom bracket comes undone.
It’s all about condition. It’s a pricey proposition to have a perfect one.
What condition do you want, are you willing to pay for?
Having one desoldered, cleaned, dents removed and re-soldered and painted or polished is not cheap.
And possible that it is not worth it.
You can only use stripper- media blasting just about ruins them
The wrong grade of Sand paper is an absolute no! Bronze wool is your friend
I have 5 + available that need reconditioning.
Ps- The bottom bracket is available new from me.
And - pricey!
It’s all about condition. It’s a pricey proposition to have a perfect one.
What condition do you want, are you willing to pay for?
Having one desoldered, cleaned, dents removed and re-soldered and painted or polished is not cheap.
And possible that it is not worth it.
You can only use stripper- media blasting just about ruins them
The wrong grade of Sand paper is an absolute no! Bronze wool is your friend
I have 5 + available that need reconditioning.
Ps- The bottom bracket is available new from me.
And - pricey!
they all have dents, and the dents are consistent - i had 3 of them, all from different sources, all had similar dents. nobody wants to take them apart and remove the dents. that would make these containers cost over 1000 bucks
But... when they are in good shape - they look awesoooooome. 
But I am biased as I have one that looks great.
FYI - I purchased it from Murray Fowler (as in BlueMax). Before he passed away, he offered some things on the forum here and I snatched this tank up.
Don had it refurbished and installed it when I had my car down for the new engine (and the rest).
But I am biased as I have one that looks great.FYI - I purchased it from Murray Fowler (as in BlueMax). Before he passed away, he offered some things on the forum here and I snatched this tank up.
Don had it refurbished and installed it when I had my car down for the new engine (and the rest).
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Ooooh, that does look so good. Mine is painted black...tempted...But... when they are in good shape - they look awesoooooome.
FYI - I purchased it from Murray Fowler (as in BlueMax). Before he passed away, he offered some things on the forum here and I snatched this tank up.
Don had it refurbished and installed it when I had my car down for the new engine (and the rest).
At what point do you spring for the $75 brass cap over the much more reasonable silver aluminum one?
Who is banging on these things? I mean they aren’t the most robust ever but cmon, they are bolted in place in the car! And if people are that fumble-fingered when removing them maybe they shouldn’t be playing with engines
Well you guys motivated me to spend an hour last night stripping down and polishing the one that I had found for $50. The solder joints aren’t quite as beautifully brassy as the one above, but it looks a lot better than it started!
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it has the similar dents that the 3 of mine have. yes JC, that's a really good start.
Funny part is that as I was cleaning it off after the paint stripping I had it over the sink, turning it over and over and...almost dropped it. So I guess I get how they get the dents. They are just too large to easily hold with one hand wrapped around it I guess.
We use a 1hp buffing wheel and 3 different rouges - speeds up the job
To each his own. I always felt that the brass was out of place in the engine bay. Nothing else is brass. It would be like polishing the header tank of the radiator. Satin black looks perfect and like it belongs in my eyes.
I agree partially - I think it depends on the color of the car. For my Polaris I’m keeping the black, but may be exploring another project. Depending on the outcome of that this brass may play a role
I also wanted to see how much better I could make it look than where it started!
I also wanted to see how much better I could make it look than where it started!
Here is the full view of the engine bay with the brass expansion tank. Color is stock (Baikal) but the motor is not (MS 3.5L CSi 'look' M90 in place of carb'd 2.8L M30).
I like the way the brass works in this set up - but not everyone might. That's ok -
I like the way the brass works in this set up - but not everyone might. That's ok -
Lucas, here on the forum has sold me one that will need polishing.