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1. I just removed that huge 2 lbs AC compressor bracket (the one that bolts through the water pump), and I was wondering if it was safe to put the same two long bolts back in their holes, or should I get shorter bolts to account for the width difference with the bracket being gone now. I (gently) tried putting them back, and they didn't seem to want to screw down farther than their old stop position, but it wasn't a "hard" stop. I could've torqued them farther had I really tried, but that just didn't seem like a good idea.
2. (no I don't plan on having any climate control in this car :lol: ) The last owner of this car disconnected the lines to the heater core and ran a bypass hose from the pump to the manifold, and I'm wondering if this is even necessary. Could I just block off those two ports? I don't see why I couldn't considering that this path would normally have a vacuum actuated valve in it for when the heater isn't running.
I'm not sure about the answer to the bolt question, but if you have a small block, you can eliminate the by-hose. If you have a high flow waterpump, you need to make sure you have a drilled t-stat. This is the answer Stewart Components gave me when I asked them the same question about their pump. The forum agreed.