Anybody bypass their heater core??

[jasonn]

My heater hoses don't look that good. It's a summer car and the cables have been bad since I owned the car. Thought about just bypassing the heater core. Can you just plug the holes or do you have to run a short hose between the holes which I don't know if that would look all that great either.

 

[Ronstang]

You can simply get a rubber plug from the Auto parts store to seal the connection to the water pump and put a screw in plug or temp sensor in the intake manifold and you are done. I did this on a 351 Windsor in a friends car that is really a track only car with moderate street use and it works fine. The holes in the firewall will be up to you as to how to seal them....whether temporary or permanent.

 

[68stang351]

I was going to do this today to my 68 but we're out of the bypass caps (at work) I was going to use on the core and the pump. Oh well, at least I put my new fuel sending unit in so my gauge works now.

 

[jasonn]

Do you think this would heat up the motor any more by doing this?? I have a new 408 going in and am a little worried about overheating. Thanks guys for the responses.

 

[Ozsum67]

Do you think this would heat up the motor any more by doing this?? I have a new 408 going in and am a little worried about overheating. Thanks guys for the responses.

It may a little, since you are reducing the volume of the system. I just loop one hose, usually the water pump hose into the intake. I have a splice near the firewall.

 

[mfp4073]

I ran my 289 with a piece of hose between them and was done with it. Ran it like that for a year before getting around to replacing the core. I dont know how much water flows through there and how much the motor wants that to happen, but it seems to make sense to let it keep pumping as part of the normal flow would be better.

 

[67GTA-FB429]

I ran my 429 like that for a long time. Just looped the water pump hose back over to the manifold inlet. There was very little effect. If anything you lose the "extra" radiator that is also known as a heater core.

You can always go to a lower thermostat if you are overheating.

 

[t_chelle16]

I ran my 429 like that for a long time. Just looped the water pump hose back over to the manifold inlet. There was very little effect. If anything you lose the "extra" radiator that is also known as a heater core.

You can always go to a lower thermostat if you are overheating.

Did the same thing with my 289. Didn't really notice any difference.

-Chelle

 

[1320stang]

I used to do the same thing during the summer. I had a splice close to the water pump. I'd loop the water pump back to the intake and use the splice on the heater core end, I'd zip tie the lines to the export brace to keep them up out of the way. I did this as the seals on my heater box wasn't that great and it's get warm in the summer in the passenger floorboard. '65s didn't get heater valves (or at least mine didn't) and they flow water all the time.

 

[69 302/351c]

I have the loop on my 69/351c and I used the plugs on my 69/302 while I was installing the A/C.

But, I failed to tighten the plugs up when I put them on last fall and one blew off at 70 mph in the fast lane in traffic on a test drive...that was exciting, went to the loop. DUH

 

[FLORD]

i have been running blocked off for about 4 years now. i havent had a problem yet.

 

[Ozsum67]

i have been running blocked off for about 4 years now. i havent had a problem yet.

Yea, but what if you lived in MN?

 

[Hack]

Hehe,
I live in Minnesota. My heater core has been bypassed ever since I've had the car ( I think it's about 15 years or so).

I just don't drive when it's too cold. I'd never drive when there's salt on the roads anyhoo.