Author Topic: Small block heater hose question  (Read 2243 times)

Offline mrjlr

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 66
Small block heater hose question
« on: December 05, 2015 - 08:45:15 AM »
Forgive me if this is stupid but.....
I hate my heater hoses running across my engine. ..looks like crud to me.
I was going to just leave them out and plug the holes but my girlfriend REALLY wants a heater.....lol !

Here's the question: is there any way to run the hoses from the back of the engine?   Can't I get hot water from somewhere back there?

Has anyone ever done that?

Jeff




Offline Chryco Psycho

  • Administrator
  • C-C.com Guru
  • *****
  • Posts: 36620
  • 70 Challenger R/T SE 70 tube Chassis Cuda now sold
Re: Small block heater hose question
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2015 - 09:52:09 AM »
well the rear port of the head that the intake seals off  could be tapped as an outlet I guess , not sure you can return the water back into though

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline mrjlr

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 66
Re: Small block heater hose question
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2015 - 09:55:05 AM »
well the rear port of the head that the intake seals off  could be tapped as an outlet I guess , not sure you can return the water back into though

I considered making custom freeze plugs with a threaded port.....
Would that work? ??


Jeff

Offline jimynick

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 4512
Re: Small block heater hose question
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2015 - 10:46:02 AM »
I wouldn't. You'd have to be a hell of a machinist to make it in the first place and maybe you are, but the only thing retaining the freeze plugs is their press fit and having hoses coming out and acting as potential long levers on a pressurized, smooth-sided plug wouldn't be conducive to care free motoring IMHO. The other thing is that if you did lose a plug, the coolant would go out so fast that your temp gauge wouldn't have anything to relate what just happened, and you'd roll on until it heat seized. What about designing and fabbing some tastefull metal tubing to run cleanly over the engine- say along a valve cover and that had hose connections only at each end? You could go braided hose and nice, expensive AN fittings and all. Just my  :2cents:

Offline mrjlr

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 66
Re: Small block heater hose question
« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2015 - 11:26:57 AM »
I wouldn't. You'd have to be a hell of a machinist to make it in the first place and maybe you are, but the only thing retaining the freeze plugs is their press fit and having hoses coming out and acting as potential long levers on a pressurized, smooth-sided plug wouldn't be conducive to care free motoring IMHO. The other thing is that if you did lose a plug, the coolant would go out so fast that your temp gauge wouldn't have anything to relate what just happened, and you'd roll on until it heat seized. What about designing and fabbing some tastefull metal tubing to run cleanly over the engine- say along a valve cover and that had hose connections only at each end? You could go braided hose and nice, expensive AN fittings and all. Just my  :2cents:

That's not a bad idea. ....
I am a 30 year CNC machinist with access to a full shop...but, I sure wouldn't want to lose that plug...!

Offline roadman5312

  • Sr. Resident
  • ******
  • Posts: 5688
Re: Small block heater hose question
« Reply #5 on: December 05, 2015 - 11:31:33 AM »
             I once custom bent copper tubing to run front to back, then polished and clear coated it. It really looked good.  Just a thought.   :rebel:

Offline roadman5312

  • Sr. Resident
  • ******
  • Posts: 5688

Offline brads70

  • C-C.com Expert
  • ********
  • Posts: 18747
Re: Small block heater hose question
« Reply #7 on: December 05, 2015 - 05:38:00 PM »
             I once custom bent copper tubing to run front to back, then polished and clear coated it. It really looked good.  Just a thought.   :rebel:

Copper will break over time, it's not so good with vibrations.... Just my  :2cents:
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

Offline roadman5312

  • Sr. Resident
  • ******
  • Posts: 5688
Re: Small block heater hose question
« Reply #8 on: December 05, 2015 - 05:57:17 PM »
Copper will break over time, it's not so good with vibrations.... Just my  :2cents:
                  Thats cool, thanks for the tip. I mounted it in rubber isolators clamps, still looking good for 5 years. It was seamless tubing.   :2thumbs:                 :rebel:

Offline brads70

  • C-C.com Expert
  • ********
  • Posts: 18747
Re: Small block heater hose question
« Reply #9 on: December 05, 2015 - 06:11:10 PM »
                  Thats cool, thanks for the tip. I mounted it in rubber isolators clamps, still looking good for 5 years. It was seamless tubing.   :2thumbs:                 :rebel:

 ;D
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

Offline CUDA JAS

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2292
  • vroooooom!
Re: Small block heater hose question
« Reply #10 on: December 10, 2015 - 02:03:38 PM »
Forgive me if this is stupid but.....
I hate my heater hoses running across my engine. ..looks like crud to me.
I was going to just leave them out and plug the holes but my girlfriend REALLY wants a heater.....lol !

Here's the question: is there any way to run the hoses from the back of the engine?   Can't I get hot water from somewhere back there?

Has anyone ever done that?

Jeff

I am guessing you have an a body cuda?

Could you reroute the rubber hoses?

Jason
74 'cuda 360/727



Gearhead: car nut, automotive enthusiast, one who loves hot rods, muscle cars, hot trucks, burnin' rubber and neck snapping performance. 

Just call me a gearhead!

Offline anlauto

  • Permanent Resident
  • *******
  • Posts: 12328
  • I'm Alan G...I'm a Mopar Addict
    • Alan Gallant Automotive Restoration
Re: Small block heater hose question
« Reply #11 on: December 10, 2015 - 02:23:17 PM »
Just mount the engine in backwards :icon16:
I've taught you everything you know.....but I haven't taught you everything I know !
www.alangallantautomotiverestoration.com

Offline mrjlr

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 66
Re: Small block heater hose question
« Reply #12 on: December 11, 2015 - 08:52:34 PM »
I am guessing you have an a body cuda?

Could you reroute the rubber hoses?

Jason

Yes, it an A-body. ..68 notchback.
I guess rerouting is the best option. ....I'll search Google for some ideas.....

Offline Chryco Psycho

  • Administrator
  • C-C.com Guru
  • *****
  • Posts: 36620
  • 70 Challenger R/T SE 70 tube Chassis Cuda now sold
Re: Small block heater hose question
« Reply #13 on: December 11, 2015 - 09:18:34 PM »
if you are creative you could use fittings & build pipes down the front of the engine above the fuel pump & engine mount along the side of the block & up to the firewall behind the engine

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t