I've got another mystery and I need your help! I was replacing the water pump on my replacement engine. The engine is a 235 from a 1961 Impala. While working on the water pump, I had to remove the heater hose that was looped from the pump to the thermostat housing. When I did, I noticed something sticking out from the thermostat housing. At first, I thought it was a 30-06 case that was crimped on the end...! However, after I got it out, I found out it is plastic, and the end is shaped to shoot the coolant in a spiral. It seems like it was purpose built and deliberately placed there. Does anyone know what this thing is and what function it is supposed to perform? Pics below.
Right now, I have not reinstalled the object into the heater hose connector. However, if it is required or serves some beneficial purpose, please let me know and I'll put it back in.
it appears to be some sort of flow control restrictor to prevent coolant from passing through the heater core too fast for good heat transfer. I don't recall ever seeing anything similar in the almost 60 years I've worked on stovebolts, so I doubt if it's original equipment. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Thanks for looking. I figured it was some aftermarket doodad. Reminds me of that thing from the 1980's that you were supposed to put inside the air filter to make the air swirl. Supposedly made the engine run better.... I won't worry about it and will add it to my funny stories file.
If you ever look at a stock heater core of a 55-57, one of the pipes is crimped nearly closed to restrict flow rate through the heater. If a truck did not come with a factory heater and someone were to install an aftermarket heater which did not have one of the pipes crimped nearly shut, the result would be that you'd melt the shoes off the ole lady.
That particular swirley restrictor you found may be for preventing that.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
Thanks for looking. I figured it was some aftermarket doodad. Reminds me of that thing from the 1980's that you were supposed to put inside the air filter to make the air swirl.
It goes back a lot further than that- - - -like the 1940's. J.C. Whitney used to sell a "mini-supercharger" that replaced the carburetor base gasket. It had a couple of little propeller shaped pieces that were supposed to spin and "atomize" the fuel better for improved gas mileage. Funny thing, after a few weeks of spinning, the little propellers disappeared- - - -if you were lucky they made it all the way through the combustion chamber and out the exhaust. Otherwise they ended up under a valve or imbedded into the top of a piston. They worked as advertised- - - -an engine that didn't run got 100% better gas mileage! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Now that is funny! I have this image of some poor old lady sweating up her Sunday best.
I haven't disassembled the thermostat housing on the defunct engine that currently sits in the truck (1953 3100 with a dead 1954 235 engine). I'm now curious if I'll find some kind of restricting device in there or is it the same for the AD truck heaters where the pipe is crimped partly closed?
You wouldn't need a dodad like that on the old round core recirc. heater in my 53, hardly heats at all. If I hadn't of just gone through the heater and read this, I would of thought it had a restricter in it. Whoops, wrong picture sorry.
Last edited by sstock; 01/21/20183:49 PM.
1953 Chevrolet 3100 261 cu inch, sm420, 3.55 rear, torque tube still,omaha orange, still 6 volt, RPO green glass, side carrier spare, all done In the DITY Gallery Video of the 261 running
1964 GMC 1000 305 Big Block V6, sm420, the next cab off restoration
