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View Full Version : Routing LT1 coolant/steam lines from back of heads?


Samckitt
09-24-2008, 09:12 AM
Originally I routed mine to a fitting on the radiator. It was a 3/4" hole or so that I screwed an adapter fitting into to allow me to connect the 3/16 or so hose to. My problem is I changed radiators & this one has plastic tanks & the fitting is now a molded plastic connection & I cannot use the adapter fitting. And I can't find one that goes between the two sizes. So what have you done? Drilled into the waterpump casting for a fitting or what?

Thanks
GeoffP
09-24-2008, 09:51 AM
Mine is hooked into one of the heater hoses using a T-fitting from Napa.
Samckitt
09-24-2008, 10:35 AM
Hmmm... I don't have any of the heater hoses hooked up. I guess I am going to have to have the pump drilled & tapped.
69LT1Nova
09-24-2008, 11:13 AM
Hmmm... I don't have any of the heater hoses hooked up. I guess I am going to have to have the pump drilled & tapped.

This is what I'm doing. Nice and clean installation. 1/4" NPT to 3/8" hose 90* fitting installed on the driver's side of the water pump. Then run a 3/8" hose to the steam line from the back of the heads (bypass the TB of course).
69LT1Nova
09-24-2008, 11:20 AM
From Street & Performance:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/coolantrouting-1.jpg
Samckitt
09-24-2008, 11:21 AM
This is what I'm doing. Nice and clean installation. 1/4" NPT to 3/8" hose 90* fitting installed on the driver's side of the water pump. Then run a 3/8" hose to the steam line from the back of the heads (bypass the TB of course).

That is exactly what I had decided too. I already was bypassing the TB by using a steam line from a 93 F'bird. It goes strait to the radiator. I too decided on the drivers side of the water pump, in the housing right at the fitting for the hose that goes back to the radiator. That means I have to take the f'ing water pump off. :banghead:
69LT1Nova
09-24-2008, 11:28 AM
That is exactly what I had decided too. I already was bypassing the TB by using a steam line from a 93 F'bird. It goes strait to the radiator. I too decided on the drivers side of the water pump, in the housing right at the fitting for the hose that goes back to the radiator. That means I have to take the f'ing water pump off. :banghead:

Well... that depends on how daring you are. You could always jam a rag in the water pump (to catch chips) and do the drill and tap with it still on the car. This was what I was planning on doing. Hope it works :fingersx: I just have to take it easy and drill a pilot hole first to keep the larger drill bit from walking.
Samckitt
09-24-2008, 11:31 AM
OK then, whoever does it first, post their luck, good or bad.
130fe
09-24-2008, 03:00 PM
I also used the 90 degree fitting in the water pump and haven't had any problems in the 6 years it has been running. I used S&P for the reference.
Steve1968LS2
09-25-2008, 07:02 AM
Mine goes into my water pump.. a much cleaner installation like that.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
Samckitt
09-25-2008, 08:10 AM
Mine goes into my water pump.. a much cleaner installation like that.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

That looks like an "LS" series motor, a little different, but I think I am going to route it into the waterpump on an LT1 also.
69LT1Nova
09-25-2008, 08:27 AM
That looks like an "LS" series motor, a little different, but I think I am going to route it into the waterpump on an LT1 also.

I was like "WTF kinda LT1 water pump is that? The steam lines are all funky."

Good call! But daaaang that is one clean engine!
paul67
09-26-2008, 01:39 AM
I've run mine down the right hand side between injectors and manifold to the front by the waterpump then connected into the heater hose as shown,this is a 94 vette LT1.
Samckitt
09-26-2008, 04:29 AM
I have pulled out the pressed in tube fittings in the pump, tapped them & plugged them with pipe plugs. I guess I could use one of those with an An-pipe fitting & route it to there. Anyone know which one on the pump is a return/inlet, not an out to the heater?
Samckitt
09-26-2008, 05:06 AM
Anyone see any reason why I couldn't use the fitting that the hand is on in the picture below:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/IMG_0085-1.jpg

It would direct the water to the area right below the thermostat.
69LT1Nova
09-26-2008, 07:25 AM
Wouldn't that be on the wrong side of the pump? You'd be putting hot coolant/steam from the heads to the cold side of the pump? Time to find a coolant flow diagram...
69LT1Nova
09-26-2008, 07:35 AM
Nevermind... I found this by doing a Google search. Looks like you aren't the only one with this idea.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
Samckitt
09-26-2008, 08:14 AM
Found these, I can't tell whether it is an outlet or an inlet connection.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/heater_hoses_9394-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/heater_hoses-1.jpg

In the second picture, hose #9 is the one that connects to the steam line & then to the throttle body.
69LT1Nova
09-26-2008, 08:36 AM
Yep, heater outlet. From the previous post, apparently they changed the 93-94 configuration to the 95-up. Odd... this is different from the B-body LT1 that I have. Gotta love the consistancy at GM!! :Alchy:
Samckitt
09-26-2008, 09:08 AM
Yep, heater outlet. From the previous post, apparently they changed the 93-94 configuration to the 95-up. Odd... this is different from the B-body LT1 that I have. Gotta love the consistancy at GM!! :Alchy:

So the fitting I want to use is an outlet from the pump (high pressure) going to the heater? My motor is a 95 F body motor.
69LT1Nova
09-26-2008, 09:29 AM
No, this is the heater outlet. In other words, the water passing through this pipe has already traveled through the heater core.
Samckitt
09-26-2008, 09:57 AM
So it is coming back to the pump & I will be ok using it.
69LT1Nova
09-26-2008, 10:16 AM
Looks that way. Heh, leave it to me to do things the hard way. :slap:
69LT1Nova
10-20-2008, 07:56 AM
I modified my water pump this weekend. Check it out:

First, stuff a rag in the pump to keep the chips out, and drill a pilot hole:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/PICT0656-1.jpg

Drill it out larger:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/PICT0657-1.jpg

Run a 3/8" NPT tap:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/PICT0658-1.jpg

Install 90* fitting with Teflon tape:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/PICT0659-1.jpg

Run coolant line to steam line:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/10/PICT0661-1.jpg

All done! :thankyou: