The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Go nowhere hose!

OK, it's me again. After finally getting that '51 utility truck in my garage yesterday and developing a leak which I suspect is the water pump, I started woking on it today. After taking out the radiator I came upon this mistery go nowhere hose which puzzled me. I posted 3 pictures in my photobucket titled Eng.1,2 & 3. This port, situated on the side of the housing where the top radiator hose goes, has a 3" long, 1" ID piece of hose plugged with a bolt. This is a 216 inline 6. Could that housing with the extra port be for a different model and not needed for this engine? If anyone can help I'd be grateful. Check the pix at:
My Photobucket Pics
If my pictures don't show up, put in the word "goaliepab" in the search and it wil ask you if you are looking for Photobucket user "goaliepab" then click on that link. I don't why it does that but if someone has an answer for it I'd be glad to listen and correct it. Thanks.

Paul

that's one line to your heater, which obviously must not have any hoses to it

Bill

Bills got ya covered on this one Paul. It looks like it was a bare bones work truck. From the artwork it appears that the truck spent it's life on the desert? There isn't a radio, heater, arm rests, right side mirror and the only accessory that I can see from your pictures is the inside rear view mirror, which would have been an accessory back then.
It looks like a 3600 model? That is not the original 216 engine, that engine is a 235, ’54 or later judging by the valve cover. If you post the engine number stamped on the flat right behind the distributor I'm sure someone here can help you identify the year.
I would pull the nipple out of the housing and plug it the same as has been done on the water pump since you don't need it with this truck. That hose is just one more place that could give you trouble down the line.
Looks like you have an almost rust free truck. If it were mine I would do a bunch of clean up, restoring the interior, under hood and under carriage and try to keep the outside and artwork as original as possible. That would make for a real conversation piece.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Thanks Bill and Denny. This now makes sense. And Denny you must be right on the engine model and later year. I will get the number as you suggested and include it in my next post along with a couple other questions.

Paul