Vortec 350 Coolant Bypass Solution

[Pavement_pounder]

When I did my vortec 350 swap in my 84' gmc k2500 and not that many solutions for the coolant bypass that I liked. Here's the cheapest fix you're gonna see on the internet. Original 5/8 heater hose went to the side of the intake, so I looped a pex 5/8 shark bite t fitting from the plumbing section at home depot. T fitting was $3 out the door. Cheapest brass T fitting in 5/8's you're gonna find. Never over heated, runs great!

An other note for the swap. I used the original v belt set up and long water pump. My 880 vortec block had no bypass in the block for the water pump like the original 010 block had. The bypass hole in the water pump itself, I plugged with a brass case( aka 9mm luger spent cartridge) and a little bit of silicone that fixed the leak.

Hope this helps.

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[Ricko1966]

This is the internet,right? Even cheaper is drill 3x3/16ths holes in the thermostat.

 

[xm20k]

They even sell T stats with the holes already in them I have one in mine.

 

[77Dmax]

They sell a tall T-stat housing that has pipe fitting in it for a bypass as well.

 

[Pavement_pounder]

There's a lot of ways to allow a bypass in the coolant circuit due to having vortec heads. I don't trust a few little holes in the t-stat to prevent my vortec heads from overheating. They already known for cracking anyways. The bypass I have is extra insurance and works great. I just made this post if anyone wanted documentation and the cheapest brass t fitting to add a bypass.

 

[Ricko1966]

There's a lot of ways to allow a bypass in the coolant circuit due to having vortec heads. I don't trust a few little holes in the t-stat to prevent my vortec heads from overheating. They already known for cracking anyways. The bypass I have is extra insurance and works great. I just made this post if anyone wanted documentation and the cheapest brass t fitting to add a bypass.

The bypass isn't to keep your heads from overheating. The bypass is to maintain circulation at warm up to insure the thermostat sees warm water and opens. Originally GM did it with a 1/4" passage.

 

[bucket]

Also, the vortec heads don't crack from overheating, they simply crack from heat cycles in general, from normal use. Many a vortec head have been removed from a perfectly operational engine and a superficial crack was found.