After the several overheating issues I have been having, I decided to
convert my cooling system to a "low pressure" system as Mike Trusty and
John Taphorn. This weekend I removed the swirl tank and plumbed in a new
tank with a 3/8 inlet to the suction side of the water pump. I replaced the
swirl tank with a line that joins the thermostat housing to the under car
coolant tube. I have one small bleed line to install yet. I should finish
it up this weekend and test it out.
I finished the drivers side front suspension and I must say the car feels
tighter with the new suspension. I also noticed a significant improvement
in "turn in". It maybe the settings, but if I got it right the 2 degrees
camber may be into the "oversteer" mode rather then understeer. Time will
tell on that one.
On other fronts I rebuilt my front end cooling tubes. Since I installed the
new bypass thermostat, I have had leaking problems with the front of the
car. I also blew a hose at the vegas track event. So I fixed it once and
for all armed with large selection of 1 and 1/4 inch copper fittings and
pipe. I removed about four hose connections. I soldered the cooper together
in method that only neccesitates three hose connections for the thermostat
itself. I painted the copper with high temp paint and clearcoat. I also
used copper wire to create "barbs" so the hose would not slide off the end
of the pipes.
I filled the car with coolant and went for a test drive. I had one
hose I forgot to tighten but other then that she is dry as a desert. She
was running really cool so I may have licked my cooling issue as well. Time
will tell.
It's been awhile since my last update. I have done some work mostly
cosmetic. I am still waiting for my weatherstripping for the windows so I
can install them. Windows would make things warmer in the car during these
winter months.
Taking John Taphorns article in the PI magazine, I installed the BMW
thermostat into my Pantera. This thermostat is a better design and seems to
keep my car running cooler by about 20 degrees. I also installed the felt
in the front trunk of the car.
