By Len Cannizzaro
Originally published in the Austin-Healey Magazine, January 1996
Those of you who own a 100 BNI or BN2 are well aware of how the front-hinged bonnet impedes direct pour-in access to the radiator tank. Well, when it's time to flush your cooling system and add fresh antifreeze, here's the best funnel I've ever found for the job, a little helper that you can easily make.
Go to your local market and buy a 2-liter plastic bottle of your favorite soft drink, Note that immediately under the cap is a neck flange designed to aid in carrying the bottle. You may also note that some brands have larger flanges than others. Most are about 1" in diameter. When you empty the bottle (save the screw-on cap), turn it upside down on a table and measure up 8 1/4" on one side and mark it with a felt magic marker. Measure up 5 1/2" on the opposite side and mark. Connect the two spots with the marker and cut, rounding the high side and the low side. That's it!
Insert the funnel in the tank throat with the high side against the bonnet and you will see that the screw cap end fits smugly into the lower opening and the flange fits perfectly into the upper part and rests flatly on the seal ledge. Note that the funnel is very stable and doesn't need to be held while pouring. Also, should your initial pour be a little hasty, the high backside will capture the flow.
Another benefit is that the funnel tail does not reach down into the fluid so that when you remove it there is no worry about drips. Replace the screw-on cap, store with the open end down and you have no concern about dirt getting inside the funnel bowl before the next use. While this funnel works particularly well on the 100 models, it will, of course, he helpful on any Healey.
If your state has a bottle deposit fee this tool will probably cost you about a nickel — if not, it's FREE!
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