Matt Brannon - Midwest Bayless
Mad.Matt
Hey everyone,
As we know, the coolant expansion tanks are the Achilles heel of our little X19s. Early tanks were mild steel and rusted from the inside out. Even if they don't leak now, they can't be trusted.
Later plastic tanks were prone to UV damage and were done in with the first overheating event.
The one-year-only, 1978 Stainless Steel tank is the only real solution, and these have been trading at very high prices recently.
New OE style tanks have not been available, in any construction for many, many years.
We are working to develop an exact OE style, stainless steel tank, (without exaggeration a "lifetime solution") with a vendor. This will have the same flanged clamshell, seam welded construction and exact dimensions of the original tank, suitable for all model years of X1/9.
If all goes well, we'll have product in-hand about 6 weeks after we submit our order.
To that end, I'd like to hear interest from the group on these NEW tanks, complete with upper mounting bracket, in the $150-ish range.
Exact prices are still being determined, but will be published before deposits are accepted.
The photo below is of a stock tank. I will post photos of the prototype unit as soon as they are available.
I'd like to follow the same basic process that Bob did with the Aluminum radiators in terms of gauging interest and accepting initial deposits for production.
Anyone interested?
-Matt
Midwest-Bayless Italian Auto
As we know, the coolant expansion tanks are the Achilles heel of our little X19s. Early tanks were mild steel and rusted from the inside out. Even if they don't leak now, they can't be trusted.
Later plastic tanks were prone to UV damage and were done in with the first overheating event.
The one-year-only, 1978 Stainless Steel tank is the only real solution, and these have been trading at very high prices recently.
New OE style tanks have not been available, in any construction for many, many years.
We are working to develop an exact OE style, stainless steel tank, (without exaggeration a "lifetime solution") with a vendor. This will have the same flanged clamshell, seam welded construction and exact dimensions of the original tank, suitable for all model years of X1/9.
If all goes well, we'll have product in-hand about 6 weeks after we submit our order.
To that end, I'd like to hear interest from the group on these NEW tanks, complete with upper mounting bracket, in the $150-ish range.
Exact prices are still being determined, but will be published before deposits are accepted.
The photo below is of a stock tank. I will post photos of the prototype unit as soon as they are available.
I'd like to follow the same basic process that Bob did with the Aluminum radiators in terms of gauging interest and accepting initial deposits for production.
Anyone interested?
-Matt
Midwest-Bayless Italian Auto
