77 Maverick with aluminum edelbrock water pump. There are two "nipples" on the passgenger side of the water pump. The upper nipple hose goes to the thermostat housing and the lower nipple hose would connect to the heater core. I assume both of these are "intakes". In other words, they allow water to be drawn into the pump. This particular car does not have a heater core. So, can I use lower heater core nipple to connect to the thermostat housing. I'm having hose clearance issues with the aftermarket thermostat housing and the upper nipple! Thanks.
The one in the thermostat is just a buypass.................is used when the thermostat is closed..........................plug them all!
It's to allow some water to circulate I assume to prevent un-needed pressure to build. You can connect either nipple to the T-Stat housing. My car doesn't have a heater so I pulled the extra nipple and threaded the hole and installed a pipe plug in it.
I've been told that the main purpose of the bypass is to reduce thermal shock and thermostat cycling when the thermostat does open and to raise the temp of the water more evenly since the water pump isn't deadheading against the back of the thermostat. I don't know that it makes much of a difference on race engines though, and totally unnecessary for those using a restrictor instead of a thermostat.
InjectedMav, if my assumption is correct and both nipples are intakes then it makes sense that the water pump flows water into the block creating pressure that returns through the bypass when the thermostat is closed. And, if the heater core is connected, hot water would flow out of the intake manifold heater hose through the heater core and return to the lower water pump nipple. Sound about right?
That is correct. All of the external hose connections on the water pump are returning coolant to the pump. The pressure side is the 2 feeds that go through the timing cover. Those go through the block, up through the holes in the heads and head gaskets to the coolant crossover at the front of the intake from which the heater core fitting supplies coolant to the heater core. The idea of the bypass is to allow flow, quicker heater operation and reduced thermo shock when the thermostat opens, but like I said before and the others have mentioned, I'm not sure it's a necessity in a primarily race vehicle. A lot of guys here and that I know personally block off the bypass especially those using an electric water pump. You can also drill a 1/4" to 3/8" hole in the top of the thermostat to provide the same effect.
In any Ford I've ever had.............going back some 30 years...........I have always plugged the thermostat return hose. One good thing about plugging the thermostat return hose is that you gain about 20% better coolant flow and again................I have done this and it does work. Again, the only purpose of the bypass (other than allowing coolant to flow in either direction depending on RPM and how far the thermostat is opened or closed) hose offers a partial escape route for cooland to circulate back through the engine while the closed thermostat will not allow it into the radiator. The bypass has nothing to do with "Thermoshock" or "Quicker Heater Operation"..............these are both MYTHS! It's not needed in a race car or street car.....................I've driven my Fords thousands of miles without them..........................IMHO Take a look at the thread we had awhile back and read it all the way through....http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=84748&page=3
I must have a target on my head... Not trying to start an argument and I also said in my posts that it would work. I am just providing information provided to me by service information, technical papers and automotive theory. If your experiences differ, no harm, no foul.:Handshake
I'm not trying to be too critical............seems like the older I get the more set in my ways................but sometimes I just need to get everything off my chest (it's not healthy to keep it in) and yes there is a time and place for service information, technical papers and automotive theroy........kind of like having multipal college degrees, my wife has 2 Masters and is working on her PHd............all I've got is a Mechanical degree and BS in Business... now with that said practical knowledge is what I have based my life on. Service information/technical papers/theroy are kind of like going to AA.............you listen to everyone speak about their situation and what they have done to solve/resolve their issues.......take away what pretains to you..............and leave the rest. Theroy is great, but doesn't always prove out in the real world.:Handshake
Its good to see two guys that know a lot and see things differently and can still be civil. Makes better reading.
Olerodder, I also wasn't trying to ruffle feathers. I just wanted to be sure I understand the coolant route for future reference. Removing all the heater hoses and associated brackets really cleans up the engine bay. This actually isn't for my maverick but that of a buddies. He has a boss block, aluminum heads, etc, etc, topped off with a blower! So, probably will not need the heat! Thanks for everyones input. And, Olerodder, we'll likely block them all!!
Not a problem (I actually have a tee shirt that says that), since I'm really old I don't have any feathers left to ruffle.
