Topic: 1972 Expansion Tank
in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems
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Lifetime MemberSo here's a really stupid question.....where's the expansion tank on a 72' with air conditioning?? 
Yeah, I know, quit laughing. 
Yeah, I know, quit laughing. Let me explain. My car has been away since last June, when I turned it over to get painted. (Long story which I will relate in detail when the first coat of blue goes on next month.) Anyway, I can't remember seeing the expansion tank on the car. I've looked in a book, the Corvette 1968-1982 Restoration Guide, and on pages 100 and 101 they show a 72' LS5 engine and the tank is up high, to the left of the air cleaner. I have pictures of my engine, and it's not there. I Googled some pictures of 72's with air and I don't see the tank in that spot either.
Were they placed in a different spot in cars with air? Different place for big block or small block?
Since I can't run out to my car and look, any help will be appreciated. Thanks!! 
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Look in the right fender, tucked under the fiberglass. And yes, many big block cars use a metallac can for a tank, and the small block cars used a plastic tank. Usually.
My 72 LS5 has the small metal tank up under the passenger side fender. Mine is an AC car. I think there may have even been a differance between AC and non AC cars.
Former Member
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Mounds View, MN - USA
Joined: 5/24/2007
Posts: 1031
Vette(s): 70 LT1 coupe, 69 350 HP coupe, 69 390HP 427 coupe, 71 LS5 convert, 85 coupe, 93 coupe
69 - 72 big block cars with air conditioning used the long narrow brass looking tank mounted under the right fender so that only the filler is easily visible. Original tanks are hard to find, but they are now selling a serviceable replacement that looks fairly correct.
Larry
Larry
Former Member
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Mounds View, MN - USA
Joined: 5/24/2007
Posts: 1031
Vette(s): 70 LT1 coupe, 69 350 HP coupe, 69 390HP 427 coupe, 71 LS5 convert, 85 coupe, 93 coupe
I found two sources that both said that only cars that originally came with an aluminum radiator had aluminum expansion tanks. I then found another reference that said all A/C cars had copper/brass radiators, and did not have an expansion tank.
I hope that settles the question.
Larry
I hope that settles the question.
Larry
My 72 SB auto- with Air/Con doesn't have any tank - I was told by a reputable source that it shouldn't have one - as this was the way they came from the factory.
Big Al
In doing some more research, I read that some cars came with the small tank, some came with the large tank, and some came with no tank at all. There seems to be no pattern as to which cars had them and which did not. It almost seems like they put on whatever they had that day, and if they ran out, then they cars didn't get one at all. 
Anyone have any more information?
in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems
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