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Old Mar 24, 2016 | 06:50 PM
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Default Steam piping

So I bought an LS6 intake from another forum member - yippee

I have the ebay seller telling me I need only one of these not two. With only 1 pipe and 2 blockoffs aren't 2 ports being left "unbled?" Excuse my ignorance - I've worked on lots of engines but not one with "steam piping"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/320698877690?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D320698877690%26_rdc%3D1
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Old Mar 24, 2016 | 07:42 PM
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if your current crossover is the one that goes under the intake and connects all 4 steam ports you can keep it, actually I would suggest keeping it... you can remove the ribs off the bottom of the ls6 intake and it will clear just fine
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 12:59 AM
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Originally Posted by jjc508520
So I bought an LS6 intake from another forum member - yippee

I have the ebay seller telling me I need only one of these not two. With only 1 pipe and 2 blockoffs aren't 2 ports being left "unbled?" Excuse my ignorance - I've worked on lots of engines but not one with "steam piping"

Corvette Camaro LS6 LS2 Coolant Crossover Pipe Kit LS1 12602544 12602540 | eBay
And your Ebay seller would be correct. That is the OE setup on Z06 cars. The "pipe" you refer to has a water "port" on each end and the two plugs block off the two rear ports on the heads. There only four ports total, not five.
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 07:23 AM
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There are some aftermarket kits that connect all four. The kit shown in the photo is the same as my 02 setup.
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 08:26 AM
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I ran a hose set up to all 4 and found that I didn't have the air trap problem that the LS engines have !!!!!
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by neutron82
if your current crossover is the one that goes under the intake and connects all 4 steam ports you can keep it, actually I would suggest keeping it... you can remove the ribs off the bottom of the ls6 intake and it will clear just fine
Actually one of the "tech notes" I read about this swap was that the original LS1 pipes can be "massaged" (aka "flattened") to clear the manifold. At this point I may take the car to ECS and have them do both the intake and the headers and save myself the headaches
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 02:36 PM
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you can do that but I personally find it easier to remove the ribs from the intake rather than risk damaging the steam pipe... the ribs will pop right off flush with the bottom and the factory intakes are structurally strong so I wouldn't worry about reducing the integrity
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 02:52 PM
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There are several way to deal with this issue.

I have done them all with success.

1. PUSH the steam piping DOWN so that it is below the level of the tall fasteners that secure the valve valley cover to the top of the engine. The fasteners don't contact the manifold, If the piping is below the bolts, YOUR GOLDEN!


PRESSED DOWN BELOW THE BOLT HEADS:




2. I have a ZO6 and I wanted to ADD the piping back to the rear cylinders. SO,, I purchased an additional FRONT ZO6 steam cross over pipe, flipped it around and installed it on the rear steam vents. Connected it to the front with a metal T fitting:


LOW PROFILE BOLTS, FLIPPED FRONT STEAM PIPE:




3. If you install a FAST intake the bottom pan is MUCH closer to the valve valley pan and they even give you LOW PROFILE Valve Valley bolts. So, you would HAVE TO get rid of the metal steam piping if you have a FAST Manifold.

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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 03:44 PM
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other options:

http://www.ictbillet.com/ls.html?p=1

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/tf...FcxZhgodLz4K2w
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 04:53 PM
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the summit kit is what I used. Bill's system is cool, also maybe a lot cheaper ?????
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 05:25 PM
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Originally Posted by akapounder
the summit kit is what I used. Bill's system is cool, also maybe a lot cheaper ?????
There's other companies also making billet block off plugs (and other specialized fittings) with 1/8" NPT threads for fabbing up external lines, rear to front, etc. Blower cars, sheet metal intake cars, etc, etc all have different needs so lots of options out there, especially on the external lines side of things.
The Joe Six-Pack guys should just notch out the underside of their Z06 manifolds and keep the LS1 pipes. The FAST guys have different needs.
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 06:44 PM
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Originally Posted by LoneStarFRC
There's other companies also making billet block off plugs (and other specialized fittings) with 1/8" NPT threads for fabbing up external lines, rear to front, etc. Blower cars, sheet metal intake cars, etc, etc all have different needs so lots of options out there, especially on the external lines side of things.
The Joe Six-Pack guys should just notch out the underside of their Z06 manifolds and keep the LS1 pipes. The FAST guys have different needs.
I don't know if it was the use of the hoses, but like I said the best part was no trapped air in the cooling system !!!!!
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 07:04 PM
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I used Bill's idea and used a "Y" fitting to the original hose
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 07:16 PM
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Just a note: When I installed my FAST 90.. I wanted to be ABSOLUTY POSITIVE that NOTHING was going to prevent it from fully seating on the heads. Before I installed the intake manifold gaskets, I sat the manifold on the heads.

The ONE corner where the rubber hose is connected to the rear crossover (passengers side) touched the manifold base. A little very minor bending AFT on the pipe and that allowed the manifold to sit FLAT on the head surface.

ALWAYS Double Check and make SURE that it will seat without any obstructions.. You will be AMAZED at how many people CRACK their manifolds after they FORCE the to seat with the bolts.

Bill
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