Thanks for the replies.
Mike, I did read the discussion you referred to before making my post. The "sink strainer" thermostat for the original 261 bypass from the top thermostat housing to the pump is no longer available, so installing the bypass hose is not an option.
The problem is really my fault; I installed the shut off valve. I have the recirculating heater. According to the old car manuals, there is no flow control on the recirculating heater. Coolant is always circulating through the core. Cabin heat is simply controlled by the electric fan in the heater; the faster the fan turns, the more heat you get. So, my options are:
- Remove the valve
- Disable the valve by setting it to always open
- Implement one of the ideas in my first post
I will set the valve to open for now...
