coolant re-route
#21
The basic OEM system works by running all of the water through the engine, from front to back(correctly), through the heater core and back to the front of the engine. It is only when the themostat opens that the system is fucked.
Then, the water pump pushes some water through that same circuit, but sets up an additional loop through the thermostat to the top of the radiator and back to the pump. This loop is the course of least resistance, and so the back of the motor is neglected.
A good reroute makes the engine circuit, from front to back, part of both loops. In my reroute, the front thermostat fitting is blocked off. All of the water goes from the pump in front to out the back cooling everything as equal as possible. Before the thermostat opens(it is in the line going to the top of the radiator), all the water passes through the heater core and back to the water pump. When the thermostat opens, the water can then pass to the radiator, but all of the water is still going first through the engine.
In Paul's set-up, all of the water passes from the pump, across the engine front to back, and then back to the top of the radiator. Since there is no initial flow through the heater core, larger holes were drilled in the thermostat flange to allow a decent pre thermostat opening flow which goes directly to the radiator. This will cause the engine to come up to temperature more slowly, but, hey, it's THE MACHINE.
#22
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more slowly? that's an understatement. with two 1/8" holes drilled in the thermostat and my Godspeed radiator my temps never even reach the 160 degree mark to come out of warm up mode. If i drive it around when its under 50 the temps don't exceed 135. i had to fab a shield to block half the radiator because of this. i do have a new thermostat waiting to be installed. I plan on drilling only one 1/8" hole in that one. Hopefully that will reduce flow enough so i can remove my shield and still reach proper operating temps.
#24
more slowly? that's an understatement. with two 1/8" holes drilled in the thermostat and my Godspeed radiator my temps never even reach the 160 degree mark to come out of warm up mode. If i drive it around when its under 50 the temps don't exceed 135. i had to fab a shield to block half the radiator because of this. i do have a new thermostat waiting to be installed. I plan on drilling only one 1/8" hole in that one. Hopefully that will reduce flow enough so i can remove my shield and still reach proper operating temps.
let me know, and once again, all of you guys.. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!!!
Paul... could you explain a little more in depth about your pipe selection, and why you drilled the holes before the thermostat? Im not very knowledgeable when it comes to this..
#27
more slowly? that's an understatement. with two 1/8" holes drilled in the thermostat and my Godspeed radiator my temps never even reach the 160 degree mark to come out of warm up mode. If i drive it around when its under 50 the temps don't exceed 135. i had to fab a shield to block half the radiator because of this. i do have a new thermostat waiting to be installed. I plan on drilling only one 1/8" hole in that one. Hopefully that will reduce flow enough so i can remove my shield and still reach proper operating temps.
F201-15-171A
#28
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Paul, Ive studied the **** out of your re-route page, and im planning on doing it either this weekend or the following with my father. I have gone over all of the pictures, and have recieved advice on the diferences between the 1.6 and 1.8... none. I dont recall seeing any holes drilled in your thermostat, could you post a few pictures? Also, I think i have the general idea on how to do this re-route, but just want to check one more time... I am drilling into the head correct? where apprx. should I drill (i havent found this on a site), Or is there a location already there... ie a freeze plug?
let me know, and once again, all of you guys.. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!!!
Paul... could you explain a little more in depth about your pipe selection, and why you drilled the holes before the thermostat? Im not very knowledgeable when it comes to this..
let me know, and once again, all of you guys.. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!!!
Paul... could you explain a little more in depth about your pipe selection, and why you drilled the holes before the thermostat? Im not very knowledgeable when it comes to this..
I don't know what you are talking about drilling into the head. I didn't drill into the head at all. i blocked off the front outlet with a freeze plug and plate. next i installed a 1.6 thermostat housing top at the back of the head where the heater core cap would usually be. orientation of the outlet is toward driver side. moved temp sensor to passenger side so it wouldn't interfere with outlet. it was already tapped there but i have a 99 head. not sure how others are set up. see pics below
at the water pump inlet i did away with the mixing manifold and mounted a 1.8 thermstat housing top cuz it angled it kinda toward the lower radiator outlet. see pic below
piping is 1.25" thin walled aluminum stock from mcmaster carr.
thermostat housing is aftermarket, got it through Shore Motorsports 732.364.7997
#31
For others making the conversion, the neck of a 1.8 thermostat housing can be filed round to accept a hose and the top can be either a 1.8 or 1.6 thermostat housing top. You can see it in my vb garage pictures.
#34
#35
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McMaster-Carr part #89965K74
ps. the factory thermostat & radiator inlet/outlet are 1.25". I didn't just pick the size out of my ***.
#36
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You hacksaw the flange off the stock thermostat housing (the flange that bolts to the front of the cylinder head) and make it round to fit over a 1.25" hose. Use the existing 3/8" hoses to your throttlebody/oil cooler/etc to allow flow to the thermostat as it's warming up, or drill holes into the thermostat.
#37
you said its too restrictive... doesnt that mean the larger the diameter the more it cools? but you also said you cant reach 160 right? i would like to run a lower temp thermostat and have your problem, cant reach 160, because ill be on a track and the tar temp will be over 100 degrees.
where is that inline thermostat that you have from?
where is that inline thermostat that you have from?
#38
you said its too restrictive... doesnt that mean the larger the diameter the more it cools? but you also said you cant reach 160 right? i would like to run a lower temp thermostat and have your problem, cant reach 160, because ill be on a track and the tar temp will be over 100 degrees.
where is that inline thermostat that you have from?
where is that inline thermostat that you have from?
#39
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you said its too restrictive... doesnt that mean the larger the diameter the more it cools? but you also said you cant reach 160 right? i would like to run a lower temp thermostat and have your problem, cant reach 160, because ill be on a track and the tar temp will be over 100 degrees.
where is that inline thermostat that you have from?
where is that inline thermostat that you have from?