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Cooler Ride!

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Old Aug 27, 2001 | 01:14 PM
  #1  
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Default Cooler Ride!

After some of you reported success in cooling off the interior temperatures by installing a heater shut-off valve... I decided to give it a try.
The whole job took me about 15-minutes... got all the parts (high pressure 3/4 inch ball valve and threaded brass hose connections) for less than 10 bucks at Home Depot. I installed the valve on the 5/8th inch hose and immediately noticed a difference.
This is a good example of an easy solution to a nagging problem. No more hot air at high speed. -Thanks for the idea forum members-
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Old Aug 27, 2001 | 01:18 PM
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (KENS78SILVERANNIV)

Ok...you wanna explain this one?

I've heard people talking about it, and I'm pretty sure I've got the same problem.

thanks
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Old Aug 27, 2001 | 02:39 PM
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (Chris Fowler '80)

Ok...you wanna explain this one?

I've heard people talking about it, and I'm pretty sure I've got the same problem.

thanks
If your feet get to hot while driving then this is an inexpensive mod that provides a great deal of relief. Out of the intake manifold (passenger side) comes a 5/8 heater hose to a vacuum shut off valve. Installing a manual shut off valve on this hose will cool you down a bit. (Thats your feet...not the engine) I got my valve at Napa for around 12.00. A couple of hose clamps and 10 minutes was all thats was needed.
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Old Aug 27, 2001 | 05:15 PM
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (CharlieF)

Should this valve be closed during the summer and open during the winter?
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Old Aug 27, 2001 | 05:21 PM
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (Chris Fowler '80)

Should this valve be closed during the summer and open during the winter?
That is correct....any time you want heat...just pop the hood...open the valve...and be on your way.
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Old Aug 27, 2001 | 05:48 PM
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (CharlieF)

Is it this hose we're talking about? (It's the only one I see that's possible...I think)

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Old Aug 27, 2001 | 11:26 PM
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (Chris Fowler '80)

Is it this hose we're talking about? (It's the only one I see that's possible...I think)


look more towards the rear. Almost right next to the distributor. You might have to take off the aircleaner to get a better view. On my 82 this is where the hose is located.
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Old Aug 27, 2001 | 11:36 PM
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (KENS78SILVERANNIV)

I can't really see what hose you're refering to either..
Is it in this pic ? http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/ann76/615enginetop.JPG
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Old Aug 27, 2001 | 11:39 PM
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (Anar76)

Looks like you're in a similar boat to me. I don't see a hose coming off the intake on the rear of the passenger side... :(
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Old Aug 27, 2001 | 11:50 PM
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (Chris Fowler '80)

I wish I could be more helpful.....but thats the best I can describe it.....again..my car is an 82...maybe its diffrent for you guys.

This guys site has a pic of what I'm talking about. His car is exactly like mine...even the same paint job. Although his car is perfect
http://www.hoepfner.net/vette/

go to "heater shutoff" .... he chose to put shutoff after the vacuum valve...I did it before the valve. Either way will be the same result. Hope this helps.

What you want to do is "shutoff" the water before it goes to your heater core....find that hose that feeds the core and you'll get the job done.
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 12:58 AM
  #11  
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (KENS78SILVERANNIV)

Why is a manual shutoff valve needed? Isn't the vacumn shutoff doing the same thing.
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 01:51 AM
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (jamiejamison)

vacuum valves dont seal well, or dont shut at all. You want to look for the 2 hoses going to your heater core and shut off the one coming from engine.
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 01:55 AM
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (Chris Fowler '80)

Is it this hose we're talking about? (It's the only one I see that's possible...I think)

Yes, that's the hose. While you're at it..put a valve in the return line which goes to the water pump. Heat travels backwards through that line also.
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 02:35 AM
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (Road Fever)

ok...I think I understand what's going on.

I found a picture in my AIM that shows this pretty well. This line runs through a vacuum cut-off that looks really old. I'm guessing that the problem is that the cut-off no longer functions or that the vacuum coming to it is insufficient to close the connection anymore. Basically, putting in a manual shutoff is just covering for the faulty vacuum cut-off...

Now...the other line that goes to the water pump is just a straight line. Will cutting it off actually have any effect? It doesn't have a vacuum cut-off, so even in the original design it's always open...
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 10:16 AM
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (KENS78SILVERANNIV)

I think that a while back one of the guys on hear installed one on the one from the intake and oen on the water pump? the one on the water pump would make sense to cut rignt by the metal tube thingie (is thingie spelled thingy or thingie :jester ) easy to reach and you dont have to work under the fender to install it :crazy:

ZD
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 10:46 AM
  #16  
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (KENS78SILVERANNIV)

In addition, make sure the hood to cowl air seal is in good shape and sealing correctly. After I did the valve in the hose thing it made a big difference, but still had a little heat at speed. Recemented the hood to cowl seal that was loose in the center part of the hood and that finished it up.

Now the 76 is a "Cool" ride.

Bob
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 11:27 AM
  #17  
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (KENS78SILVERANNIV)

I installed the shut off valve and it helped a little but there is still warm air blowing in at my feet, must be coming from the fan or something,
like to know who the brain surgeon was that designed that.

Any ideas how to completely shut this annoyance off.
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 10:44 PM
  #18  
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Default Re: Cooler Ride! (MotorHead)

Motorhead, if your 80 is the same set up as my 77 you can shut the low speed off on the fan motor and the other two will still run. On top of your heater,ac box located on the engine side of the fire wall you will see a electrical plug with four wires running to it. Find the dark brown wire insert a small screw driver into the area the wire is entering the plug and release it by pushing on the retaining clip with the screw driver. That should shut the low speed off.Tape the wire to something and stay cool. Chuck :cheers:
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