LS Steam Vent Tube - Best place to tie into cooling?

[GeoffP]

What's the best place to tie the steam vent tube from the heads back into the cooling system?

Thanks!!

[Rod]

factory steam tube goes to radiator, I tapped the top of my water pump and put a barb there so I only have a 6" hose

[KUSI]

Geoff,
Some radiators are LS engine specific and they will have a small threaded hole to insert a fitting and tie into the steam vent tube. If your radiator doesn't have that option I have seen others tie the steam vent directly inline with their top radiator hose. You still use a few fittings and piece of tubing to get the steam back into the flow of the radiator hose. Here is an example I found going through some of my photos. Hope that helps.

[12sec ss]

factory steam tube goes to radiator, I tapped the top off my water pump and put a barb there so I only have a 6" hose

I did that on my last 4 LSx conversions, never a problem

[garys 68]

I drilled/tapped the top of the water pump on one, spliced a fitting in the upper hose on the other.

[dj3]

Geoff,

I used one like KUSI mentioned and if works well and was easy.
http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Par...g_LSI-tee.html


Derek

[kochevy67]

I tapped the water pump as well. Have not had a problem for 3 ears since i installed it.

[GeoffP]

I think my local Napa has a Help! version of this fitting that'll work. I'll have to go check them out. I don't have time to order something and get it here in time for Saturday without paying a HUGE shipping fee.

[evostilo]

I was actualy looking into this today as i finaly found my radiator hoses and i would like to keep the engine clean looking, do i need to remove my water pump to tap into it, also should i let the steam vent through the Throdle Body? any photos or details on this would be helpfull

[69bigblock]

I also tapped the water pump. Looks cleaner..

[GeoffP]

I'd love to but I don't have the tools to drill and tap the pump (no taps and dies).

[SparkyRnD]

we build all of our LS swap radiators with the steam port in the radiator, adjacent to the hoses. Make it easy, clean and no other spots to tap / worry about leaks.

[RSX302]

I plumbed the vent to the water pump pre t-stat. (well Wegner did with their water pump)

Would plumbing post t-stat cause the engine temp to run cooler during cold days?

I drilled an 1/8" hole in my t-stat as I usually do for a little bypass flow, but I will need to replace without the hole because my engine is running 160-170 on a 180 stat during a cooler days. (approx 60deg day)

[kochevy67]

I didn't take the pump off I just used grease when I drilled and tapped it to catch the aluminum shavings.

[evostilo]

I didn't take the pump off I just used grease when I drilled and tapped it to catch the aluminum shavings.

Grease? how dose that work?

[GeoffP]

You cover about 1-2 inches of the drill bit with grease so that any metal shavings stick to the grease rather than falling into the pump or going other places you might not want the metal shavings to go. Then you do the same with the tap. It's not 100% foolproof but it does work quite well.

[MuscleRodz]

We use radiators with dual pass and steam bungs already built in so it is never an issue here.

[GeoffP]

Yah I wish I had the money right now for a new radiator. No funds for that right now.

[Rod]

here is a picture of the steam line tapped into the pump on my car



here the tube is connected with just a clamp before the fitting was flared to the tube

[GeoffP]

I tapped mine into the pump on Friday before leaving for RTOS just to the left of the mounting bolt. It put it right in line with my vent tube so it worked out well.