Hi,

The other day I replaced the radiator on my car (thanks to all of you who helped me). As I was fitting hoses where they go, I noticed that one of them went to the firewall and I wiggled it loose to see what happened. The whole connection came off and then I went to Auto Zone to see if I could get it replaced.

It turns out it was part of the heater core, so I ordered a new heater core and its hoses. Well, one hose goes to the radiator and the other one is supposed to go underneath the carburetor (at least that is what the good ppl at Advance Auto told me). Come to find out, the hole where I think the hose fits is plugged (and it has been since I bought it 7 yrs. ago). My questions are:

1. Why would the previous owner plug up that hole? Why would he go w/o a heater? I know the car was used for drag racing but I don't understand...

2. Do any of you have any experience with this thing because I am about to put a hose that goes into something that I am not quite sure. As always Haynes is useless and you guys are my only hope.

Thanks a million. Here are some pics so we can be on the same page.



This is the hole that contains the heater core. I taped it because fumes were escaping. The two holes that above the peeled tape are the holes where the connector things come out of the heater core radiator.



Okay, the hose goes from the core in the firewall to the plug shown underneath the top radiator hose above.



Here is the bigger picture.

Again, any help is greatly appreciated and I am already very grateful to all those who helped me in the past....

 

The previous owner bypassed the heater core. I usually do that with my "summer only" cars since it isn't needed, and it's one less thing to spring a leak. I removed the heater core completely from my 69 to clean up the firewall, and because the inlets to the core were in the way of my tall valve covers.
You don't say where you live, but if you're in a warm climate where heat isn't needed, leave it alone.
See that hose with the spring on it coming from the water pump? That's your heater hose. When the core was bypassed, the guy just formed a "loop" and connected the hose from the water pump directly to the intake manifold. If you want to add heat again, remove that hose from both fittings. Connect a new heater hose to the nipple on the water pump (supply) and connect the other end to the inlet fitting on the heater core. Connect another hose to the other heater core outlet and the other end of that hose goes to the nipple on the intake manifold (return).

 

Yup.......many times it's done when the heater core goes bad and starts leaking on the inside of the car and the owner can't afford the repair or doesn't use the heater anyway.
Here in the PAC NW a heater is a must have in a daily driver even in the summer but a lot of guys delete it on their sunny day only hotrods and race cars.

 

You could always put a big block heater core in there to cure that clearance issue but then I imagine you already knew that.

 

Thank you all for your help!!

I have the parts so I would like to go ahead and install it. Now, Camaro 69, the second time I read your post I became very confused. You see that shiny thing behind the radiator cap in the last picture? That is a piece of tape I rigged to serve as a plug to a radiator outlet. I thought that is where one of the hoses fits in. I know I am being annoying but, can you run that past me in a little more detail, please...

Also, if anyone has any experience getting to it, I would sure appreciate some pointers

 

Looks like the small hose fitting for the radiator overflow hose.

 

Uhhhh...isn't that your coolant reservoir (overflow) tank right there I see on the inner fender?
Run a hose from your niftytaped overfitting behind the radiator cap to thattank. Heater hose routing goes like I described, not to the radiator.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE 1st GEN RIDE OF THE MONTH HERE: http://snappoll.com/poll/306592.php

 

No, there is a small one, which I assume is for the reservoir and then there is another bigger one below it! Maybe I got the wrong radiator but the people at Advance were pretty convinced that that was the place where the hose went from the heater. Also, I don't think that is the reservoir. According to some stuff I read recently, that option wasn't available until right after the 72 model. That is the last year they didn't have it. I think it is the w/w fluid tank because it's got a filter at the end.

voila...

 

Technically, you have the wrong radiator.
What they sold you was one that will fit 72-81 Camaros. But that "extra" fitting setup wasn't used until 1980. You have a "one size fits all" radiator, not one specific to your year. And they are just confusing you more by their lack of knowledge.
Check out this radiator for the 72-79: 72-79 Camaro Radiator
Now compare it to this one that you have for the 80-81: 80-81 Camaro Radiator
Although the one you have will work, it's not right. You'll have to use a proper rubber "cap" and clamp it off. Duct tape is going to blow right out, so don't even try running it that way.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE 1st GEN RIDE OF THE MONTH HERE: http://snappoll.com/poll/306592.php

 

camaro69 is 100% right. i had the same issue with my 79 a while back. just cap it off with a proper rubber fitting and a hose clamp. duct tape was not the best choice haha. just remember silence is golden, but duct tape is silver . i would just by pass the heater. and remove the heater core and have a flush fire wall. jmo,