EOI: NB Aluminimum coolant reservoir GB

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:21 pm

Lokiel wrote:... will post installation pics and review when they arrive for anyone curious about the quality of the coolant reservoir.

Would be interested if you could do a volumetric comparison with your SE coolant tank.

I know with my standard NB tank (300mL smaller than the SE tank) and Koyo 37mm rad the level fluctuates more than I would like, so there's not much of a buffer.
Cold = 'Low', Operating temp = 'Full'

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 7:50 pm

Can be easily worked around (canister delete or longer piping), but I was just comparing to a photo from my engine bay and due to the different shape of this reservoir, I wonder how much those pipes would get in the way ...

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 10:26 pm

KevGoat wrote:Can be easily worked around (canister delete or longer piping), but I was just comparing to a photo from my engine bay and due to the different shape of this reservoir, I wonder how much those pipes would get in the way ...

Well the SE has a smaller Charcoal canister than any other NB and seems to work well with the standard NB tank as fitted in my SE.

Given the tank on offer here appears to be similar in dimensions to the standard tank (without the cutout near the charcoal canister) it should be ok. :wink:

BTW: Kev, ditch that factory rubber inlet manifold intake elbow before it causes you some serious grief mate!

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 10:45 pm

Nevyn72 wrote:BTW: Kev, ditch that factory rubber inlet manifold intake elbow before it causes you some serious grief mate!

On order from BEGi along with CAI as of yesterday .... :wink:

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:54 am

Just to keep you guys updated on the status of these tanks, Frank e-mailed me Saturday:

"Sorry to keep you guys waiting. They would have all been done and shipped last week, but I ran into material issues and it took longer than expected to get past supplier issues. I finally received the materials earlier this week and just have to do a few more things to the tanks. I just wanted to give you an update and let you know that we are still on track to have them shipped before I leave on Thursday of next week.

Frank"

Postby **Okibi** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 8:53 pm

Thanks !

rossburns · Postby **rossburns** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:00 pm

The Moss Miata one is pretty cool and a good fit :beer:

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Tue Jul 14, 2015 3:49 pm

He's a fast worker, just got this from Frank:

"Alright, they're all done and boxed up ready to ship. I'll go to UPS tomorrow and let you know how much it is. "

Frank's in the armed forces and will deploy shortly so I'll pay for the S&H ASAP and sort the individual delivery costs later.

Postby **Okibi** » Tue Jul 14, 2015 7:09 pm

Thanks mate and can you please pass on our thanks to Frank and our wishes that he has a safe and uneventful deployment.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Tue Jul 14, 2015 9:30 pm

Will do!

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 10:25 am

Here's a summary of my latest e-mails with Frank regarding the coolant tanks (important stuff highlighted):

Thanks for the wishes, it's not an actual deployment, just a month long exercise. I'll be back in August.

I went to UPS and they said the cheapest price was $388 but they offered me a military discount bringing the total down to $330.44 I checked with FedEx and they wanted $403 I know you don't want to use USPS so I'll go ahead and send it out UPS for you once I get the go ahead.

Okay so I went back there today and the total ended up being $335.25 I actually found out that my discounted price is only at that particular UPS store because the owner is retired Navy so we both lucked out there.

Your UPS tracking number is: 1za601e36706356261

I also included a decal for everyone. I'm trying to make this fab work a legitimate business on the side and a buddy hooked me up with some decals for it.

This works out to US$55.88 each which is more than I'd hoped (I refuse to use USPS for anything except cheap items now since they've lost 2 packages of mine, washing their hands from them because they were international deliveries - this despite the fact their own tracking for one item showed that it was delivered to their Chicago facility and that was their last entry for it). If you can send this amount to me via PayPal and PM me your delivery address, I'll mail these out at my cost.

The good news is that WE GOT STICKERS!
- according to Crapweasel's "Stickerwatts theory", correct placement of stickers can result in additional power gains.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 8:09 pm

The tanks arrived today, apologies for needing to use the flash in these photos - it's dark now.

Unwrapping:

- bloody Kevin wouldn't smile

Comparison with the OEM tank:

Nevyn72 queried about the tank's capacity so I filled it right up and measured it at 1,750ml - obviously you'd never fill it that full but note that in the photo above it doesn't have that missing chunk in the top left corner that the OEM tank has so I'm guessing it's more than OEM. When I install it, I'll measure the OEM tank at full capacity.

I think I'm going to give it a brushed finish before I install it (will test it out on the hidden underside first).

S&H was more than I'd hoped which I now realise was due to the size of the box needed so if you guys in the GB can send me US$55.88 to cover the US shipping and PM me your shipping details, I'll send them out ASAP.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 8:29 pm

Lokiel wrote:- bloody Kevin wouldn't smile

Comes with the name ... wife says it every time someone tries to take a photo of me .... :oops:

So, considering the cost of these, with the current exchange rates

, what's your first impressions Lokiel?? Worth it?

Edit: ... now you just need one of these from UniversalIntercoolers in UK to match it ...

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 11:28 pm

Frank's tank is much cheaper than the other NB tank I found a few years ago, it was around A$200+ but didn't include the fill indicator and I can't find it anymore - MINX has one (there's a picture in his garage thread).
The other aluminium tanks that are around are for NAs and are quite expensive since they've got "a million" facets so need lots of welds.

Frank also makes those washer reservoir tanks (see initial post) but I already have a Cappacino washer bottle that I'm happy with (it was bloody expensive for what it is so it's staying - it does look OEM though!).

The exchange rate really sucks at the moment and the PayPal rates are always < A$0.02 of what I see on the official exchange rate (banks do this too so I can't really bitch too much about PayPal specifically) so that hurts and now makes it worthwhile buying stuff locally at our Aussie "rip-off" prices.

I didn't buy the NB tank I referred to above since it was so expensive and I figured I could get a few more years out of mine.
I now have some cracks that seemed to magically appear on the side edges in a short span so I'm going to pre-empt any damage - it's something that needs to be done sooner or later and I figured that since I plan to keep the car a long time, I may as well replace it with something that's going to last (the bling-factor is a bonus).

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 12:18 am

Yeah, since posting above I've had a search around, just out of interest. Apparently the stock tanks are prone to cracking. There's limited choice for NB's with these alloy expansion tanks. This one by Frank is the best one I reckon and as you mentioned, bit of bling is always a bonus :wink:

So ... yours going to stay polished ... or receive the red treatment ??