seadog

i noticed an ls1 camaro in a salvage yard that had the radiator hose from the water pump outlet (thermostat end) routed to the lower passenger side of the radiator and the other to the top drivers side. I routed mine just the opposite, like any tbi truck would be. Is this going to give me problems, i cant see how the other would work properly if coolant was not completely full all of the time. i am using my stock radiator in an 89 s-10. any help is appreciated.

Speartech

iTrader: (14)

You have it wrong and need to change it. People make the mistake assuming the thermostat housing is the outlet. It is NOT! The thermostat housing on all LS1 type engines (and all LT1's for that matter) is the INLET from the radiator. The hose nipple sticking straight out the front of the water pump is the outlet (return). This is where the upper radiator hose belongs.

seadog

wouldn't the thermostat see cool water from the radiator all the time then, Im not saying you are wrong, Im just curious how it works. It seems like the thermostat would never close. I just figured that the outlet was the thermosat and gm just returned it to the bottom of the radiator, which seems fine if it never gets low on pressure. Please fill me in on this.

Speartech

iTrader: (14)

I don't know why you think the thermostat would never close. It's normally closed and the engine internally circulates the water that's in the block until it gets hot. That's the water that is exposed to the themostat element. It gets hot, the thermostat opens a little and lets some cool water in. That cycle repeats until everything warms up and the thermostat stays open far enough to keep engine temperature regulated to around 195.