steam line | FerrariChat
Buy

steam line

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by Rodgerrr, Jun 10, 2015.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Rodgerrr

    Rodgerrr Rookie

    Apr 26, 2013
    43
    #1 Rodgerrr, Jun 10, 2015
    I'm starting to look into putting a steam line in my 550, from where the current bleed screw is back to the reservoir - as others have done. I managed to find a banjo bolt which has the same threads as the current bleed screw. The only banjo fitting I could find, however, has a hose barb for a 5mm ID hose. Does anyone know what the ID is of the current hose which runs from the radiator back to the reservoir? Assuming that hose is bigger than 5mm ID, where have you guys, who have done this, been getting your hardware eg banjo bolts and fittings?

    Thx

    Rodger
     
  2. au-yt

    au-yt F1 Veteran

    Aug 13, 2006
    5,838
    Burradoo... Actually
    Full Name:
    Graeme
    #2 au-yt, Jun 10, 2015
    Roger , this may seem like a dumb question steam line, what are you referring to?
     
  3. BJJ

    BJJ Formula 3
    BANNED

    Feb 25, 2014
    1,301
    #3 BJJ, Jun 11, 2015
    Perhaps his classic collection comprises at least one Stanley Steamer and he is trying a technology transfer ... ;o)))
     
  4. Rodgerrr

    Rodgerrr Rookie

    Apr 26, 2013
    43
    #4 Rodgerrr, Jun 11, 2015
    I wish I did have a Stanley Steamer - I could sell it and buy a garage full of Ferraris. Re a "steam line", what I am referring to is a self bleed line. Some on here, me included, have noticed that air tends to build up above the thermostat where the air bleed screw is located. By running a line from there back to the reservoir/header tank that air (steam) is constantly being removed.
     
  5. Cribbj

    Cribbj Formula 3
    BANNED

    Jan 1, 2011
    2,316
    Cooke City MT, The Coolest Small Town in America
    Full Name:
    John
    #5 Cribbj, Jun 11, 2015
    Rodgerrr, this is a mod that Ferraridriver came up with 4 years ago and I hand carried some parts (the SS banjo's) back from the UK for it. AFAIK, the parts aren't available here in the US (at least not in SS), and they weren't readily available in the UK either, but we managed to find them.

    Dave (Ferraridriver) will probably have a few more comments about it later, when the left coast wakes up.
     
  6. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

    Aug 8, 2002
    4,150
    Bay Area Calif.
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #6 ferraridriver, Jun 11, 2015
    The original bleed screw is M6, I used M8 stainless steel banjo's

    You have to drill, tap, and spot face the thermostat housing for M8.

    Good quality M8 banjo's with M6 barbs are very hard to find. I think they might have been Goodridge, can't remember

    Pics here
    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/140069584-post24.html
     
  7. Rodgerrr

    Rodgerrr Rookie

    Apr 26, 2013
    43
    #7 Rodgerrr, Jun 11, 2015
    Got it.. I actually got an M6 banjo bolt with a 5MM barb - from the UK so I understand the scarcity issue. The same guys had M8 bolts as well. I presume you went with the M8 sized banjo bolt so the hose barb and bleed hose ID matched up.. Am I correct in understanding that the banjo fitting/barb you used had an 8mm hole (eg where the bolt goes through) and a 6mm barb (eg made for a 6mm id hose).

    Last question: at the reservoir/header tank I saw a photo where the exit point for the rad line is actually above the coolant level (eg inside the tank). Given that, why did you think it was necessary to weld a new hose barb on the top of the tank and bring the line in there? Eg do you see any reason why putting a T in the rad line as you did, but leaving both ends of that line where they are will not work?

    Thx

    Rodger
     
  8. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

    Aug 8, 2002
    4,150
    Bay Area Calif.
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #8 ferraridriver, Jun 11, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Yes

    I didn't like the way they routed the hose, I wanted a straight uphill run from the thermostat housing and the radiator to the highest point in the header tank. the way I did it everything runs uphill, air bubbles like to run uphill :)

    I finally found the source in the UK where we bought the fittings, just make sure they are M8.

    High Performance Cooling by Serck Motorsport
    and
    High Performance Cooling by Serck Motorsport

    In the final iteration I spigoted and silver brazed the banjo to the SS tee then drilled the ID to match the ID of the bolt.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  9. au-yt

    au-yt F1 Veteran

    Aug 13, 2006
    5,838
    Burradoo... Actually
    Full Name:
    Graeme
    #9 au-yt, Jun 11, 2015
    Thanks , makes sense not a bad idea.
     
  10. sherpa23

    sherpa23 F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 28, 2003
    9,994
    Rocky Mountains
    Full Name:
    Bastuna
    #10 sherpa23, Jun 11, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2015
    I bought Dave's last set up and I'll putting it on my car when I do the major this year. I did just have to replace the only expansion tank cap and the new one from Ferrari is a 1.0 bar. It must hold a little more pressure than my old one because after my first long drive in the car, it was steaming a little from the edge of the hoses when I pulled to a stop.

    Anyways, I am looking forward to installing the steam line as well as the 575 fan shroud to see if that helps my car cooler during the summer.
     
  11. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

    Aug 8, 2002
    4,150
    Bay Area Calif.
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #11 ferraridriver, Jun 11, 2015
    As John said it's been 4 years now and I can't overheat my car no matter how hot it is outside or how hard I drive it and that includes track days and severe traffic. The gauge nevers gets more than just a little over center.
     
  12. Rodgerrr

    Rodgerrr Rookie

    Apr 26, 2013
    43
    #12 Rodgerrr, Jun 11, 2015
    Dave - thanks for the feedback.. I'm going to go ahead and order the parts you indicated. Your idea just makes too much sense. Just gotta make sure the bubbles go uphill!
     
  13. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

    Aug 8, 2002
    4,150
    Bay Area Calif.
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #13 ferraridriver, Jun 12, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  14. gsjohnson

    gsjohnson Formula 3

    Feb 25, 2008
    2,291
    Woodland Hills, CA
    Full Name:
    GS Johnson
    #14 gsjohnson, Jun 12, 2015
    I too will be fabing a bleeder/steamer setup as Dave has so kindly shared with us. I have already performed the radiator cap mod on the header tank. This is a great mod...
     
  15. Rodgerrr

    Rodgerrr Rookie

    Apr 26, 2013
    43
    #15 Rodgerrr, Jun 12, 2015
    Guess I'm missing something - what's wrong with the current cap?
     
  16. Cribbj

    Cribbj Formula 3
    BANNED

    Jan 1, 2011
    2,316
    Cooke City MT, The Coolest Small Town in America
    Full Name:
    John
    #16 Cribbj, Jun 12, 2015
    Stock caps have a high failure rate, and according to the pro's, are often defective out of the box.
     
  17. sherpa23

    sherpa23 F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 28, 2003
    9,994
    Rocky Mountains
    Full Name:
    Bastuna
    #17 sherpa23, Jun 12, 2015
    I just replaced mine last week. I found that it was only 4 years old, according to service records. It's a different design now and it definitely holds a higher pressure. Don't know if that's good or bad. I'll switch to a different style cap when I install the steam line kit.
     
  18. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

    Aug 8, 2002
    4,150
    Bay Area Calif.
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #18 ferraridriver, Jun 12, 2015
    Plus its a lot easier to do a pressure test, you don't need a special adaptor
     
  19. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    28,708
    socal
    #19 fatbillybob, Jun 12, 2015
    And for those trying to find the last bit of boil-over anti-cavitation blah blah blah you can vary the cap pressures because the stant style cap comes in a bunch of different flavors.
     
  20. Rodgerrr

    Rodgerrr Rookie

    Apr 26, 2013
    43
    #20 Rodgerrr, Jun 13, 2015
    Already made the investment in adapters, my current cap measured something like 15psi. The pressure thing is interesting, what kind of pressures are others running their system at? I'd be real nervous about going too high - not sure what the hoses can handle - on the other hand - if it can keep the bubbles down, it's something to think about...
     
  21. sherpa23

    sherpa23 F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 28, 2003
    9,994
    Rocky Mountains
    Full Name:
    Bastuna
    #21 sherpa23, Jun 13, 2015
    The new cap from Ferrari is rated at 1.0 bar, so 14.5 psi.
     
  22. troyce

    troyce Karting

    Jul 19, 2014
    133
    East Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Troyce Walls
    #22 troyce, May 29, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The hose going forward goes to the top of the radiator?
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  23. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

    Aug 8, 2002
    4,150
    Bay Area Calif.
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #23 ferraridriver, May 29, 2017
  24. 166&456

    166&456 Formula 3

    Jul 13, 2010
    1,723
    Amsterdam
    #24 166&456, May 30, 2017
    If there is a regular buildup of gas in the thermostat housing, it is combustion gas from a microscopic leak under high pressure.
    Any car I owned that had such gas buildup problems turned out to have a bad head gasket or cracked head.
     
  25. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    36,866
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    #25 Rifledriver, May 30, 2017
    Exactly. If it is a problem, something is wrong. The cars work perfectly as designed.
     
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page