Last year I purchased a 1968 427/390 and I'm going through the engine compartment and noticed I don't have the expansion tank. is this needed? if not where do I run the hose from the radiator?

According to the "Fact Book of the 1968-1972 Corvette" big block Corvettes were not equipped with expansion tanks in '68. It wouldn't hurt to install one. Simply run the overflow hose to an expansion tank wherever you decide to mount in and make sure you use a radiator cap made for a closed system.

Gunslinger, If the 1968 did not come with an expansion tank then where would the hose from the radiator run to?

RH,

Your original question made me curious about my '68.  According to the fact book (thanks GunSlinger) my 327/300 did not have a tank, but the 327/350 did.

The vent hose on my '68 runs from just below the radiator cap and more or less right down to the ground aside from a clamp on the inner fenderwell.

I keep an absorbent mat in the garage under the vent hose in case the rad pukes a little.

I'm considering installing an expansion tank myself.

Good luck,

Anthony

The overflow hose runs down the rad header to just below the lower connection. Keep around a 2-3" drop in your coolant and it shouldn't puke out. My 71 never drops a bit. Terry