Topic: Heater Hose Routing

[rob289c]

I started routing my heater hoses today but not sure if I have them hooked up correctly.  Please take a look at the attached pic and let me know if I am right or wrong.  I currently have the hose from the water pump attached to the upper hose connection to the heater core.  Is this correct?   Thank you in advance.

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The heater core does not care which way the water runs. It doesn't matter which way the hoses are connected. In fact, it's healthy for the heater core to swap the hoses from one outlet to the other every couple of years.

[rob289c]

Thank you for your reply.  I agree that it doesn't matter which way the coolant flows.  My real concern is which rigid tube should be in which position, and namely I want to be sure the one with the tee is in the correct position.  After searching (pic attached), I believe that the factory intended for the rigid tube with the tee should connect between the water pump and the top of the heater core (outlet).  The rigid tube without the tee connects the top of the engine/thermostat to the bottom of the heater core (inlet).  I am going to route the hoses that way and if there wasn't that tee and line that goes to the intake, it wouldn't make a hill of beans. 

[Wittsend]

Just a guess but I'd assume the smaller hose coming off the "Tee" goes to heat the intake manifold??? And if that is the case I'd also assume that it gets its coolant pre-thermostat to make it happen faster. Anyway, I just base that on logic and I'm sure my wife will tell you my logic can be flawed.

[rob289c]

The way it appears on some under hood pics I found is:

Thermostat housing to bottom of heater core.

Water pump to top of heater core.  This is the rigid pipe with the tee that goes to the intake manifold.

[davidpinto]

I BRAZED UP THE WATER PASSAGE ON MY INTAKE AND DID AWAY WITH THE T AND SMALL HOSE.WORKS WELL,MOTOR WARMS UP FASTER AND RUNS COOLER AND LOOKS CLEANER TOO.I ROBBED THE INTAKE OFF A 75 MODEL IN A JUNK YARD,THE OLDER INTAKES  HAVE BETTER RUNNERS AND THE FUEL DOES"NT PUDDLE IN THE BOTTOM.

[rob289c]

Thanks for the info...Since I have the '80 intake already on the motor and have the stock plumbing, I will just put it back together the way the factory did it until something fails.  At that point I would probably do your modification.  Is the line to the intake for the choke? My buggy will only be run in the Summer anyway so as long as it starts and idles, the warm up period isn't too much of a concern at this point.  We'll see what the drivability is like next year when I get it running.

[davidpinto]

LATER MODELS HAVE AN ELECTRIC CHOKE ON THE CARB,WITH A WIRE RUNNING FROM THE ALTERNATER TO THE CHOKE THERMOSTAT THAT HEATS UP THE COIL.KIND OF A PAIN,I HAVE TO ADJUST IT OFTEN DEPENDING ON THE SEASON SO THE ADJUSTER SCREW LANDS ON THE RIGHT STEP WHEN YOU PUMP THE GAS.