heater bypass
 

Just double checking...

350 engine

I can put plugs in place of my heater hose outlets on water pump and intake if I don't have a heater yet right? Thought I'd ask the experts because i'm getting mixed results on the web, some people say you have to use a hose from pump to in take.

Re: heater bypass
 

Yep, Guys with cars like T buckets that they never intend to run a heater on do it all the time.

Looks a lot better than looping a heater hose between the outlet and the inlet.

Re: heater bypass
 

depends on the 350, modern ones arent made to have the passage shut off, the heater core is always passing coolant.

i think it has more to do with what type of overflow you will be using, if true old school overflow (one way cap, line from rad to catch can or ground) then plugs will probably be fine, but a true expansion system (two way cap, line from cap to bottom of expansion tank that has a coolant level mark on it) then you will need a hose.

Re: heater bypass
 

Ah, that explains it. I took it out of an 84 c10. Hose from intake to heater core. Then a hose from heater core to radiator. The radiator had just a overflow plastic flip cap bottle.

Now I have a stock style 3100 radiator in it. There is not a spot for a heater hose on radiator and it looks like a regular overflow outlet so I think I can use the same bottle from c10 right?

Re: heater bypass
 

I am not sure what system the 84 would use, does it have a max cold/max hot line on it? thats the mark of an expansion system.

there should be a plug on the water pump that will give you a spot to put the other heater hose. I had to do this on a 91 4.3, it had the heater line on the rad too. it was an expansion system. it had a vintage air setup with a hot water valve that shut off the flow in the heater core, and the temp did climb when I turned the heater off.