LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

Pressure lines in LT1 heads?

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Old Mar 11, 2004 | 12:27 PM
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Pressure lines in LT1 heads?

Hello all, I am pretty much a newbie to LT1 motors but I picked one up for my 79 malibu wagon. I am curious about the line that runs from the back of the driver side head, to the passenger, then to the front of the intake. Ive been told that it is just a pressure line, is that true? If so, is it possible that I can just run a line from one to the other and not have to have the line that comes up the intake? any info would be great, I am just trying to clean this motor up and make it less cluttered under the hood.
Old Mar 11, 2004 | 12:30 PM
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Its a steam tube, just do a TB bypass and run it straight into the rad. You are going to want somewhere for the steam to escape to, just linking them together would only equalize the pressure rather than relieving it. JMHO
Old Mar 11, 2004 | 04:57 PM
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So is it a total no-no, or just a recommended no-no? If it will hurt something by connecting the two then I wont do it.
Old Mar 11, 2004 | 04:59 PM
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I always thought that it was a coolent line? Maybe i'm wrong...
Old Mar 11, 2004 | 07:26 PM
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Originally posted by Aaronh
Its a steam tube, just do a TB bypass and run it straight into the rad. You are going to want somewhere for the steam to escape to, just linking them together would only equalize the pressure rather than relieving it. JMHO
It's not a steam tube. It's a coolant line. This is how the reverse flow is acheived through the heads. You cannot remove this.
The LT-1 is a pressurized system and will not have any steam in it as you will need to properly bleed the air out of the coolant.

-Shannon
Old Mar 11, 2004 | 08:22 PM
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From the "Rebuilding the LT1" article, it serves BOTH functions:
EXTERNAL COOLANT LINES

There is an extra hole that goes into the water jacket on both ends of the heads. These should be plugged when they’re in the front, but left open when they’re on the back. There’ s an external coolant transfer line that connects the holes on the back side to a reservoir that vents the air and steam vapors that would be trapped in the head and cause hot spots.
Old Mar 12, 2004 | 01:11 PM
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Originally posted by Injuneer
EXTERNAL COOLANT LINES
There is an extra hole that goes into the water jacket on both ends of the heads. These should be plugged when they’re in the front, but left open when they’re on the back. There’ s an external coolant transfer line that connects the holes on the back side to a reservoir that vents the air and steam vapors that would be trapped in the head and cause hot spots.
Thank you, I know I'm ignorant to a lot of things, but was sure I read that somewhere.

As I said, it is a steam tube, dont delete it.
Old Mar 12, 2004 | 01:12 PM
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is this tube also the cause of many of the LT1 intakes to leak in the rear?
Old Mar 12, 2004 | 01:20 PM
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No, its not part of the intake.

Aaron
Old Mar 12, 2004 | 02:11 PM
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I know that it isnt part of the intake, but I have been told that the line setting so close to the intake and putting off a lot of heat can cause the rear seal to leak.
Old Mar 12, 2004 | 03:01 PM
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The theory is that its heat from the EGR riser tube that causes the intake manifold oil leak. That seems to have come from one individual, who published his repair procedure at least 5 years ago. Not sure that it is a valid concern.

In any case, its not heat from the head coolant cross-over tube that is suspected of causing the intake manifold leak.

I've seen at least one case of a big shot nitrous motor grenading the #7 piston, and the thought was that its poor circulation through the back pipe that causes temperatures to be higher at the #7 and #8 cylinders, hence those are the ones that are more likely to detonate. Not sure how valid that idea is, but the guy that lost the piston is using a seperate -10AN braided S/S line from each of the rear head connections in his 1,100HP nitrous setup.
Old Mar 12, 2004 | 05:47 PM
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Originally posted by sfriesen
I know that it isnt part of the intake, but I have been told that the line setting so close to the intake and putting off a lot of heat can cause the rear seal to leak.
My bad, never heard that theory though. Interesting.
Old Mar 12, 2004 | 06:21 PM
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I just dont understand that. If it's a steam tube, then why does mine shoot out a solid stream of coolant ?

-Shannon
Old Mar 12, 2004 | 06:29 PM
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Sure, coolant does pass through it at a constant rate. It has to the passages are open to the presurized system. The point is if it wasn't there, steam would build up and not have anywhere to go, hence the steam tube.

Aaron
Old Mar 12, 2004 | 06:39 PM
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Originally posted by NOMAD
I just dont understand that. If it's a steam tube, then why does mine shoot out a solid stream of coolant ?

-Shannon
If it makes you feel any better, the official term for it is "engine coolant air bleed pipe".
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