On my '97 there is a flow restrictor in the heater hose line. I was at home alone today and noticed a leak-the restrictor had split and failed. Not having one or being able to get one, I just took it out of the line. Any particular reasons for this thing? Seems to run all right without it, just wondered if there was a problem with too much coolant routed to the heater? I was wondering about too much heat-I barely need a heater here as it is.

 

The LT1 cooling system is set up to continuously send some of the coolant through the heater core. In effect, that would appear to be subtracted from the flow of coolant through the engine. I suspect the flow restrictor was placed in the heater line to limit the amount of coolant diverted to the heater.

I have an SAE paper on the LT1's reverse flow cooling system, written in 1992. I'll see if they mention the specific purpose of the flow restrictor.

 

Agreed, also likely is the need to slow the flow through the core down to improve thermal transfer, along with decreasing wear on the core due to cavititation

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

 

I think I remember that publication but it has been too long to remember about the flow restrictor.

You may have a point on the thermal transfer. I have seen racecars without thermostats that had flow restrictors to slow down velocity and improve thermal transfer. The part about wear on the heater core is something that wasn't part of my thinking process but could be.

I've been driving it for a day and a half and everything appears to be normal. If there is an issue, one way or another, I may need to get or make one for the system.

 

I stumbled onto an old thread on this here:

https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/lt1...8036-a-268780/

And one on LS1-Tech that turned into a flame war:

http://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-mo...-help-lt1.html

The part # is apparently 10188036.