The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Water heat or non-water heat, that is the question

:confused: Your experience please? All input appreciated.

Finally finishing up my truck and am have been cussing and discussing hooking up the water heat on my Clifford 6=8 intake.

Background: live in Nebraska so will be doing 3-4 season driving, 261 is bored .60, head shaved .20, stock cam, head ported and polished, engine balanced, 650 Holley that ran well on my old 235 (after some adjustment-cam experimentation) 3 spd manual w/OD, 12 bolt posi.

I used to live in Brookings, SD. The water heat definately improves cold weather drivability. However, it really clutters up the engine. Now that I don't drive it in the winter, I took it off.

Yup, our son and daughter-in-law graduated from SDSU in Brookings so I know what you mean about cold weather starts. Notice any difference otherwise?

Dude.

Definitely water heat the intake. Then in the warm summer heat you can plug the hoses and the intake and re-hook everything the following winter.

And if I might add a smidgen of advice - you ought to consider at least a mild (if not a 3/4) cam for your engine. With the other mods you have it'll improve gas mileage and really boost throttle response, probably top end too.

-ftyler

Overall, it didn't have any ill effects. I also used it during the summer. Never had a problem with vapor lock.

We put water heat on my friend's 261 with the dual Offy intake, it works great. The heat does make a difference, even if it ain't as cold here as in Omaha.

I was running dual carbs on a 261 without heat for several months, then finaly got around to plumbing in the heat. First thing I noticed with the heat was that the mixture was way too rich, but was previously fine without heat. Now I've leaned both carbs I'm convinced that the engine runs better heated, idles a little smoother than before, and has a higher vacuum signal. I'm in Northern California and it doesn't get very cold here. Always experimenting.
Don.

56picup,

The heated water not only helps with start-up but seems to be needed during normal running. As I recall (and I hope this is not "mumbo jumbo"), when the gas vaporizes during carburetion, there is a significant temperature drop that cools the intake manifold and could result in condensation of the vaporized gas. A heated manifold prevents this condensation.

I trust that someone will either correct me or clarify my recollection.

Tim

Thanks, guys. Will connect water heat with a shut off for very hot weather. Ordering hose this am.

Was working on my Offy dual setup this past week, yah gotta grind a lot off to miss the Fenton's, was sweating that there were no voids. Will be using water heat, got the thermostat spacer from Langdon"s, I'm gonna use tubing and furels to keep it clean, already have hoses for the full flow oil filter running on left side. ZEKER6

You definitely want the water heat. Haven't really heard the cons of summer use but it would seem that you would want it on then also.

I have an offy dual setup with water heat and I ran long tubes from thermostat all the way under the motor to the manifold then from manifold under the motor back to the heater. It seems to work fine and looks clean.

I have heard there is a thermostat housing that has an outlet on the carb side? Using that with stainless hard lines would be the ultimate setup.

41ChevyTrucker,

I was told that some GMC 6-cyl thermostat housings have fittings on the carb side. These supposedly fit the 216/235/261 heads.

Tim

All of my motors have run better (and leaner) with a heated intake manifold. Especially those with multiple carbs. It's not a cold weather deal at all, rather better atomization of the mixture. Others have had similar results, but for some reason the 250/292 motors seem to be not so critical. I have no idea why this is so.

Correct on the GMC thermostat housing. Here's a picture of one on my motor:

[img]http://www.inliners.org/images/Halton_GMC_01.jpg[/img]

One of my 261's has the same housing, they are interchangeable. Langdon's Stovebolt probably has a few used ones kicking around.

cool I will get one of those for my next build.

nice looking motor what are the specs?

Specs on the motor are HERE

sixpack all I see when I click on that link is the image again?

Duh, sorry - THIS should work

Jack how many horsepower do you guesstimate your engine will make?