Plans for L32/3X00 Hybrid

[pocket-rocket]

There is another one that comes out below the TB from the t-stat housing too. That would be the 2nd one. Really I imagine you could pull that tube out and plug the hole and run a single line since they both come from behind the t-stat anyways. Actually, the more I think of it, I would plug the one coming off the side of the t-stat housing and use that tube. That would remove that long metal line from your bay and clean it up a little. Then just run a molded flex hose from that tube to the core since most likely it would only need a 90 bend in it.

[tkoforpresident]

There is another one that comes out below the TB from the t-stat housing too. That would be the 2nd one. Really I imagine you could pull that tube out and plug the hole and run a single line since they both come from behind the t-stat anyways. Actually, the more I think of it, I would plug the one coming off the side of the t-stat housing and use that tube. That would remove that long metal line from your bay and clean it up a little. Then just run a molded flex hose from that tube to the core since most likely it would only need a 90 bend in it.

thank you so much!

I think I understand now. That "tube" you are referring to is the one that runs along the front (in a fwd application) valve cover! I was wondering what the heck that was.

Question: If I purchased a TCE forward facing thermostat housing will that "eliminate" the need to even "plug" that hole since I don't believe that outlet is even present on the TCE housing? A forward facing housing would also allow me to reuse my old upper radiator hose.

[tkoforpresident]

Just to verify, this is a perfect picture to show what I'm thinking now.

As you can see, the BLUE line is the coolant tube that runs (i think) from the thermostat housing to the 2nd heater core inlet. By plugging that hole (or buying a TCE thermostat housing) I hope, that I can entirely disregard that pipe.

seems to make sense to me now.

[pocket-rocket]

The blue line in that pic goes to the coolant reservoir as a "self bleeder", if you will. Where the white line at the lower left corner of that pic is, there is a bleeder there. Normally there is another one where that blue line attaches to the t-stat housing (where that radiator hose is hooked onto on the right), but in this case, there is a tube with no restriction headed to a port on the coolant tank, so the system is constantly burping air out and into the tank. If you were to follow that white line under the radiator hose and under the TB, that is one of the heater core lines. The other one comes off the rear of the t-stat housing (which is just under the TB at the end opposite of the radiator hose on that t-stat housing and has a tube coming out of it to hook to the heater core. One LIM setup has the tube press in (with an o-ring on it) and is held into place with a stud and nut attached to the rear head. The other style uses a type of quick connect setup (which is where you get the talk of people threading the hole for the tube).



If you look at the left side of the manifold (thanks for the nice big pic, Ben ), you see where the tube down the center hooks into. That is where the t-stat lives. Coming off the bottom of that is where the 2nd heater hose comes from that I was suggesting you plug up, then you would use the tube that goes down the center to eliminate the hose/line that you mentioned earlier and hook it in at the rear of the engine instead of the front. This is the best I can figure by going by pics and not having an F body and a 3x00 in front of me. I'm also tired, but I hope that this helps and would work.

[tkoforpresident]

I really appreciate the help you are giving me. Let me see if I can get this straight.

- The heater hose inlet that I am supposed to block off is not located in the thermostat NECK but rather behind where the thermostat itself is located (basically it comes from the LIM)

- The tube that I want to use for my heater core pretty much comes from the same spot behind the thermostat and runs (as we can see) down the middle of the LIM and exits at the rear pass. side

that sound straight?

If so, I'm confident that we have come up with the perfect plan for my setup (as far as the heater core hoses is concerned)

Question: What is a good way to "plug" the unwanted passge way?

[bszopi]

Yes, that is correct. Best way to plug it would most likely be to tap the neck spot and thread in a cap fitting.

[tkoforpresident]

Yes, that is correct. Best way to plug it would most likely be to tap the neck spot and thread in a cap fitting.

Is that something I can do myself or is it usually a machine shop kind of task?

[TechRod]

I wonder if an expansion plug would work or if it would be under too much pressure and pop off?

[tkoforpresident]

scooter, you mean like one of those rubber core plugs that you screw in?

[TechRod]

Something like this...

http://www.lifeasbob.com/content/binary/Expansion_Plug_neoprene_rubber.jpg

Forgive the link, it was the first pic I found on google showing what I meant

[tkoforpresident]

Hell,whatever works, I don't care what it looks like

[TechRod]

People use those as replacement freeze plugs, so it should work for your setup.
They're available at most auto parts stores.

[tkoforpresident]

thanks for the idea. It shoud work great for a novice like myself.

[TechRod]

I was going to try this idea myself but if you get yours running first please let me know if it works out for you.

[tkoforpresident]

Yeah no problem. I don't know when you're planning on getting yours up and running but for myself I'd like to maybe gather all the parts nessecary over the summer and then slowly put the build together over the winter (in my buddy's heated garage ) and have it ready for spring.

That should give ample time to take these "modifications" one step at a time and get things right.