StanceWorks » Tech » Engine and Drivetrain

[NorCalFocus]

Hey guys, I need some help on either removing my cars expansion tank and or relocating it. I'm sure not many of you have experience working on a Ford Focus, but I hope that some of you who have done shaves know my answers.

Now I know all about how expansion tanks and over flow tanks work. My question is can I simply remove the expansion tank, block off the factory expansion nipples and the refill nipple, and then replace it with a inline filler neck with a catch can?

Here's a pic of the factory setup.



Then the red circle is the radiator expansion line spot and the green is the refill.

[NorCalFocus]

No ideas anyone?

[RXTurner21]

could you get away with using a set up like how the washer fluid reseviour is in my 2004 2.3l? its inside the fender and all you see is the cap... just get one and place it on the passenger side inside the fender?

[NorCalFocus]

Originally Posted by RXTurner21

could you get away with using a set up like how the washer fluid reseviour is in my 2004 2.3l? its inside the fender and all you see is the cap... just get one and place it on the passenger side inside the fender?

I've thought about doing this. Downside is getting one made. I may just say eff it and have it done tho. I accuatly took my washer tank out so I could just replace it with a coolant tank.

[RXTurner21]

I feel like you could probably just get away with sticking a second washer fluid tank in there and use it as your coolant overflow. don't need to get one made.

[NorCalFocus]

Problem is the washer tank isn't made for pressure and has holes in the wrong spot too.

[RXTurner21]

true but a little adaptation to a pre made tank wouldn't be too hard. seal off the fittings you don't want.. it shouldn't be too hard to pressure test it and see what type of pressure it could handle.

[kaidotech]

Get on Focus Fanatics or Focal Jet. I bet you'll have a precise write-up or quick explanation in a matter of minutes.

[NorCalFocus]

Originally Posted by kaidotech

Get on Focus Fanatics or Focal Jet. I bet you'll have a precise write-up or quick explanation in a matter of minutes.

No no I won't. Focus Fanatics is a joke, they'll tell me how to Plasti Dip my engine to make it look better. Focal Jet I got a explaination of how the expansion tank works. Trust me maybe one or two people may have shaved their Focus' bay stateside.

I may try Focus Owners Club.UK next.

[kaidotech]

Originally Posted by NorCalFocus

No no I won't. Focus Fanatics is a joke, they'll tell me how to Plasti Dip my engine to make it look better. Focal Jet I got a explaination of how the expansion tank works. Trust me maybe one or two people may have shaved their Focus' bay stateside.

I may try Focus Owners Club.UK next.

Meh, I hear people from each forum trash talking each other and saying this forum doesnt know anything and this other forum doesnt know this or that. What I've taken away: no Focus owner knows WTF they are talking about.

Wade through the bullshit, or use Google.

[NorCalFocus]

I'm an ex mod from FF. Believe me I'm not into the trash talking, I speak truths.

[Teknomaz]

The only way I can see that would work by removing the exp. tank really is to change your radiator to one which has a built in expansion tank on the side. Its funny cause I did exactly the opposite when fitting a Ford focus radiator to my Mazda MX-3. ie. I had to fit an expansion tank.

[NorCalFocus]

Originally Posted by Teknomaz

The only way I can see that would work by removing the exp. tank really is to change your radiator to one which has a built in expansion tank on the side. Its funny cause I did exactly the opposite when fitting a Ford focus radiator to my Mazda MX-3. ie. I had to fit an expansion tank.

Hold on, I haven't checked this is while...So are you saying that a Mazda 3 radiator has a built in expansion tank on the side of it and may fit into a Focus?

[Teknomaz]

I'm not saying it will fit direct, they are the same height but the reason I choose it was it was a smaller width for boost pipes to pass, that said spend enough time in the wreckers looking and Im hopefully you could find a rad. with a built in exp. tank that will fit your focus.

online radiator catalogue's are a good place to start researching core sizes, pipe layout etc.

[NorCalFocus]

Thanks man. That gives me so much hope now. I pretty much gave up on this idea due to the amount of time and money it seemed it was going to take.

[Buck6687]

seen this on a hot road before.
they had a radiator with the usual pipe coming off it. but the top hose had an in line coolant pressure cap.
i dont have a pic but im sure yo could get cretive on google and find where it came from or something similar?

[PavelK313]

Cant you use washer tank, tap fitting into it and convert to pleasureless cooling system?

[Shotje]

Originally Posted by Buck6687

seen this on a hot road before.
they had a radiator with the usual pipe coming off it. but the top hose had an in line coolant pressure cap.
i dont have a pic but im sure yo could get cretive on google and find where it came from or something similar?

As in this Austin ?

http://www.britishv8.org/other/ianosborne.htm

[NorCalFocus]

Originally Posted by Buck6687

seen this on a hot road before.
they had a radiator with the usual pipe coming off it. but the top hose had an in line coolant pressure cap.
i dont have a pic but im sure yo could get cretive on google and find where it came from or something similar?

Yeah that's how all older cars worked. I have thought about going this route the only thing that worries me is how much coolant I may loose. Even with a catch can, it wouldn't be feeding back into the system.

Originally Posted by PavelK313

Cant you use washer tank, tap fitting into it and convert to pleasureless cooling system?

Do you mean a pressureless system? I want pleasure in my car so making it pleasureless wouldn't be cool.

No I can't use the washer tank.

[jimmk1]

hi,
not sure if you have canned this idea but you can use a BMW radiator with built in expansion tank off a 3 or 5 series i believe both are smaller in width than the focus one, Google it and it will tell you dimensions!!

[Nickgt40]

Woo back from the dead. Chris, get this done so I can follow suit!