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Tech Editor's DeskProjects, papers, writings, thoughts, musings of our technical editor Joe Padavano. To begin with, he will be making threads and can approve posts to it if he wishes. This can be changed in the future if it does not work out well.
I just purchased a 1973 Cutlass Convertible with a 455. All in all pretty good shape. I am wondering where the washer fluid and radiator overflow go. I've attached a picture of what is in there. The washer fluid is bolted to the wheel well. The overflow is just sitting there. Looking at replacement overflows, and the go where the washer fluid is. What is the correct placement. Thank you. Pete
Take a picture of the tag on the firewall driver's side under the hood and the VIN through the windshield.
They will dictate exactly where those two bottles go.
I want to see the pictures since they never made a 73 Cutlass convertible. A typo maybe?
The pic shows a 70 fender (judging from the flat ridge on the top) but the radiator support looks like 71-72. Seeing just a little more of the radiator support would narrow it down for sure. So, yes it must be a typo. To answer the original question, the car most likely did not have a coolant overflow bottle when new. If it did, the washer bottle would be on the driverside and the overflow bottle would be where the washer bottle is. In that case the overflow bottle would look like this:
Last edited by Loaded68W34; October 28th, 2022 at 07:09 PM.
The VIN isn't really legible on the picture, so here it is typed out 3J67U2M198096. It's a 1972 with a 455 motor and 400 trans. The other picture shows the whole engine compartment. Most of the overflow show the mounting where the washer is mounted. Thank you.
Last but not least, here's the car on the floor.
In my original post it was a fat finger typo. 1972 The pic from loaded68 looks to be where I will go with this. Thank you all for helping the newb. Pete
On the overflow bottle in my 68 442 one output hose on the cap goes to the radiator Ofcourse. But what is the other one from the cap for? It has a nub end as if it’s meant to hold a hose. Thanks. —Billy
Another hose pointed towards the ground to direct overflow, which defeats the purpose of having the bottle. It will hose down your engine if it ever got to that point.
Id just eliminate the bottle and reconfigure it as it should be. Looks out of place to me on such a fine 68 engine bay.
Thank you for the answer. I’m told this overflow was available as a dealer installed option in 68.
I drive this car out of state often in the summer in hot temperatures. I think I’ll keep the overflow just in case.
October 28th, 2022, 02:26 PM
Water Bottles
