Moon Tank question

I've seen a fair number of modern '32's that have a Moon tank mounted on the front spreader bar, but they also have a gas tank in the back.
My understanding is that racers used to use these to cut down on weight while racing, but on a modern Deuce, is there any other use for these other than cosmetics?
I do think they look cool, and I'm planning to install one on mine, but on a modern rod, does it just sit there empty, or are they still plumbed, even though I have no itention of going to the salt flats?
Hope this question makes sense.
Thanks,
Randy

Most I've run into are just eye candy, but some are used for carrying hotter fuel ( av gas anyone ? ) and used just for racing, this can be done from the drivers seat with two fuel pumps and a switch or two. :toocool:

I may be way out to lunch on this, and someone will surely correct me if I am wrong----I believe that these tanks had a manual air pump on them, and could be pumped up with air pressure, to pressurize the fuel into the carburators on a 1/4 mile drag race. If your engine was "hopped up" and multi carbed, the stock mechanical fuel pumps of the day simply couldn't deliver enough fuel to the carburators for a top speed run. There was a "switch over valve" that allowed you to run off the gas tank for normal around town driving, but at the drag strip you ran off pressurized fuel from the front tank. You could also run a more potent blend of gas from the front tank, that was O.K. for a blast up the drag strip, but would cook your motor or your wallet if used for normal driving.

How about using it as an overflow tank for the radiator, or is it too low for that to work? Just a thought

I have used mine for a radiator coolant overflow tank for 10 years. It works great. Just remember that the tank must be vented or it will not let the coolant be sucked back into the radiator when the engine cools.