Quick dumb question but relevant to my situation. First time since winter hibernation I want to take the 55 out for a drive. Is there any way to check the coolant level without adding more coolant that'll be wasted when the engine warms up? I find this radiator spits out any topped off coolant out the bypass after a drive or so and the normal level is somewhere down lower. Problem is there's a flat panel covering everything at the bottom of the tank top, so you can't just look down inside the fill cap to see if there's anything in there it always looks dry even if it's full to where it needs to be.

Are there any tricks and tips to see if there's water in the system short of putting more coolant in?

Get an inexpensive Coolant recovery Bottle setup. I got mine on Ebay. That way You can fill Rad to bottom of neck and ad some to Bottle about an inch deep. When it gets Hot coolant flows into Bottle instead of on the Ground. As it cools coolant is drawn back into Rad.. Cut the Copper overflow Tube and run Hose to Bottle. Extra Coolant helps Engine run Cooler too.d of on the Ground and back into Rad as it cools down.

  

This question has been address on a number of different forums. Most owners say that the radiator should not be filled all the way to the filler neck, but just to the top of the core; you're overfilling it. Try filling to the top of the core before going to the trouble (and expense) of installing a catch bottle. I bought one of those cheap, plastic bottles for my 55 Tbird; the hose came loose and spilled coolant onto the road, and it just looks cheap. I removed the bottle during restoration, and I don't intend to reinstall it. 

On my Tbird, I keep mine just a little above the flat panel at the top.  It always stays there so I assume its at the right level.  No overheating/water level  problems.

My 54 (312, stock radiator) does not have the panel, so I keep it just a little over the core.  Again, not water level/heat problems.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

I don't have a panel above the cores on mine, so I can feel or shine a torch down to look.
Have you tried squeezing the top hose with both hands? It might bring the level up enough to give you an indication. Bottom hose shouldn't be able to squeeze if the wire is still intact inside the hose.

1½”-2” of air gap when the engine is cold typically compensates for the expansion that takes place in the original radiators.  I put a coolant recovery system on my ’55 back when I had the original radiator which eliminated the air space in the radiator and that kept the radiator completely full.  Since then, I have replaced the radiator with an all-aluminum radiator but retained the coolant recovery system.  Painting the added recovery tank flat black helps it to blend in under the hood if concerned about appearances.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

If you're going to add a coolant recovery tank, I can recommend this one from Speedway

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-13-Inch-Stainless-Steel-Coolant-Expansion-Overflow-Tank,2954.html

It's a much better alternative than those cheesy plastic ones, nestles right up to your radiator and you don't to cut up your original puke line to run a hose to it.

What modifications/brackets did you have to make to mount it? Specific application?

I used some 1/8" wall tubing with longer bolts through them to space them away from the core support (which is where I bolted it). Drilled holes in the core support accordingly.

I have one of those coolant recovery tanks in my 54.  I placed it on the drivers side of the radiator.  Made two "L" brackets that I bolted to the side panel and bolted the tank to those.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ