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Topic: Is heater core bad ?

in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems


Is heater core bad ?

Posted: 12/26/08 10:06am Message 11 of 19
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Dutchess County, NY - USA
Joined: 8/27/2007
Posts: 2484
Vette(s): White '79 Corvette. It's a driver.
Late last summer I installed shut off valves on both heater hoses. I was very happy with the resulting lack of excessive heat. The car ran great and seemed not to run any hotter.
However, along the lines of what Joel mentioned, I did wonder if the lack of coolant flow back in to the intake manifold area could cause a problem.
 
So now I'm wondering if we can have the best of both worlds;
Are there shut off valves available with 1 inlet and 2 outlets?
 
I'm thinking that a valve of this type could allow for coolant to be allowed in to the heater core as needed and otherwise be looped to the second heater hose that allows coolant to pass back thru the intake manifold.
 
Any ideas?
 



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Is heater core bad ?

Posted: 12/26/08 11:15am Message 12 of 19
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[QUOTE=KDADDY79]Late last summer I installed shut off valves on both heater hoses. I was very happy with the resulting lack of excessive heat. The car ran great and seemed not to run any hotter.
However, along the lines of what Joel mentioned, I did wonder if the lack of coolant flow back in to the intake manifold area could cause a problem.
 
So now I'm wondering if we can have the best of both worlds;
Are there shut off valves available with 1 inlet and 2 outlets?
 
I'm thinking that a valve of this type could allow for coolant to be allowed in to the heater core as needed and otherwise be looped to the second heater hose that allows coolant to pass back thru the intake manifold.
 
Any ideas?
 
[/QUOTE] I'm in favor of keeping the flow of the coolant. The water pump is constantly attempting to pump.........whether the stat is open or not.


corvette440hp

Is heater core bad ?

Posted: 12/26/08 12:33pm Message 13 of 19
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Dutchess County, NY - USA
Joined: 8/27/2007
Posts: 2484
Vette(s): White '79 Corvette. It's a driver.
Hey "440",
That makes me think of simply running a joined (both sizes) heater hose from the water pump right back in to the intake manifold. This would obviously leave the heater core "out of the loop".
My reason for not doing that was to leave some coolant in the heater core so as not to let it dry out and go bad.
Does this make any sense?
 
Tinbender,
I hope I havn't blown this up and confused you.
I think there's an answer in here for both of us.
Kevin



Is heater core bad ?

Posted: 12/26/08 2:34pm Message 14 of 19
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[QUOTE=KDADDY79]Hey "440",
That makes me think of simply running a joined (both sizes) heater hose from the water pump right back in to the intake manifold. This would obviously leave the heater core "out of the loop".
My reason for not doing that was to leave some coolant in the heater core so as not to let it dry out and go bad.
Does this make any sense?
 
Tinbender,
I hope I havn't blown this up and confused you.
I think there's an answer in here for both of us.
Kevin
[/QUOTE] Looping the hoses together will create a flow path. I'm rebuilding my 74 from the ground up, and not even going with a heater core, just AC. What I did was to connect a fitting on the intake manifold, that was before the t-stat, with another fitting on the top of the water pump. I made up a stainless (Russell) hose to connect from the manifold to pump. When the stat opens, the flow goes to the radiator, flow in the path of the least resistance.


corvette440hp

Is heater core bad ?

Posted: 12/26/08 8:42pm Message 15 of 19
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Kevin, you're right in thinking that leaving some coolant in the core will help keep it from rotting when not in use.
You can have a "bypass" system for the heater core that will block coolant from circulating thu it, but still allow it to circulate thru the hoses, but it requires some plumbing to achieve, and one more valve like the ones you have now, or...a diverter type valve, and a "T" fitting for one of the hoses. Sounds like a plumber's nightmare...
It may be a bigger pain than it's worth. Keeping coolant flowing thru those hoses is NOT a life-or-death kinda deal....lots of cars run around with NO heater hoses even connected, and the fittings on the intake/water pump are plugged. I know it sounds like I'm waffling here(I could be a politician, no?), but my original point was keeping coolant running thu the hoses if the hoses are connected is better than blocking them completely...imho


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Is heater core bad ?

Posted: 12/27/08 7:19am Message 16 of 19
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Dutchess County, NY - USA
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Vette(s): White '79 Corvette. It's a driver.
Hey Joel,
You still got my vote---it's cool LOL Thanks to you & "440" for the input!
This may be one of those jobs I don't have to do, but do anyway.
 
Tinbender,
Let us know how you make out on this.
Kevin 
 



Is heater core bad ?

Posted: 12/27/08 8:42am Message 17 of 19
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Something that I did with the engine is to install a mechanical screw in 3/8" mpt guage into the manifold. This allows you to check the engine temp from under the hood, and this is directly in the engine before the thermostat. It gives the engine temperature not the radiator temperature. Here is the link...it's liquid filled to take out the engine vibrations:   http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM%2D350120&N=700+4294925228+4294925227+400304+4294822101+4294908416+4294907780+115&autoview=sku


corvette440hp

Is heater core bad ?

Posted: 12/27/08 7:30pm Message 18 of 19
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edgwood, MD - USA
Joined: 11/1/2007
Posts: 736
Vette(s): 1975 convertible,with the hard top and power streering.it a 350 L48 with auto trans. the color is light blue.
Lucky for me the heater core in my car is setup very basic. No A/C a inlet and outlet hose.In the spring when the weather wams up I will change it at the same time I do my dash.


Is heater core bad ?

Posted: 1/2/09 9:03am Message 19 of 19
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Newark, DE - USA
Joined: 1/11/2005
Posts: 20
Vette(s): Present: '76 l-48 #433257 Bldg: '59 #5366 Prev. '59, '62, '62 '
I went with the reducer method out by the water pump about 6 yr.s ago, since mine goes into "Hybernation" about  Nov. and doesn't come out until Easter or so.
 
JB



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