Will the LS6 coolant tube conversion hurt cooling system performance?
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Will the LS6 coolant tube conversion hurt cooling system performance? I am converting to an LS6 intake manifold and I think I am going to install the LS6 front coolant tube and the rear coolant plugs. However, will this reduce the effectiveness of my cooling system? I know GM felt like it would be okay on the LS6 motors, but they were running 10 lbs of boost on it either and I am concerned about the #7 and #8 cylinders.
Thanks, -Dave
Thanks, -Dave
If your concerned it would be pretty easy to modify the rear pipes to go around the rear of the intake. Some guys have even taken a small die grinder to the bottom of the LS6 intake and made the stock LS1 pipes fit.
they do not 'cool' anything really. The job of those tubes is to not let air get trapped since they are on the highest point of the cooling system. But since the engines on these are tilted back a little the highest point is always at the front.
they do not 'cool' anything really. The job of those tubes is to not let air get trapped since they are on the highest point of the cooling system. But since the engines on these are tilted back a little the highest point is always at the front.
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Originally Posted by cam
Looks like his install is far from stock and it may not be low in the rear depending on how he mounts it. Do you think that would be a problem having the rear higher?
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Probably not, the air would work its way to the front sooner or later since the coolant is pushed around the rear. If the front end was raised while doing the inital fill you should be OK unless the car had a leak. But if it was an issue it would be easy enough to modify another pipe in the rear to run up front and T into the other.
Good to know. BTW Killer vids man thats some walk you take those skinnies on
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Yea, I finally took a look at my water pump and figured out those little tubes don't cool anything... I wasn't sure considering the tine holes in the head gaskets that the water has to pass through.
Originally Posted by kp
they do not 'cool' anything really. The job of those tubes is to not let air get trapped since they are on the highest point of the cooling system. But since the engines on these are tilted back a little the highest point is always at the front.
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Good thought... actually my engine sits back an extra degree, so it won't be a problem... however I did not consider that extra degree when I made my oil pan.
Originally Posted by cam
Looks like his install is far from stock and it may not be low in the rear depending on how he mounts it. Do you think that would be a problem having the rear higher?
FWIW, Will Handzel's book states that cars with the LS6 tubes are more likely to go lean on #7, and that many "racers" modify the floor of the LS6 intake to accomodate the ls1 coolant tubes.
FWIW, Will Handzel's book states that cars with the LS6 tubes are more likely to go lean on #7, and that many "racers" modify the floor of the LS6 intake to accomodate the ls1 coolant tubes.
Hmmmm thy plot thickens....
Heres an interesting thread;
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-internal-engine/455286-how-many-you-guys-have-lost-number-7-a.html
Last edited by cam; Jan 3, 2007 at 09:17 PM.
Hmm, can additional cooling power really fight a lean condition in a cylinder?
If there was some extra heat specific to one single cylinder and the extra cooling brought said cylinder back on par with the others then i would say yes. I read that whole #7 thread and the air crashing into the back of the intake sounds like the smoking gun BUT connecting those pipes to the cooling system cannot in anyway hurt. I dont know how much it would help either but I'm going to post up and see if any of those guys who lost number 7 had the plugs vs plumbed coolant tubes.
Wegner makes little adapters that bolt into the hea and allow you to run -3 braided line between the heads. I don't know if that will help your install.
Air can get trapped in the coolant passages around the cumbustion chamber. This will create a hot spot and make that cylinder more prone to detonation.
Andrew
Air can get trapped in the coolant passages around the cumbustion chamber. This will create a hot spot and make that cylinder more prone to detonation.
Andrew
The way the whole cooling system works is why the rear cylinders run hotter. The water doesnt cross over through those tubes, the coolant enters the front on each side, is pushed by the cylinders, then up and back towards the front through the heads. So no matter what the rear would tend to be hotter then the front.
Whether its enough to cause detonation issues in the rear cylinders is up to your application. Maybe its not the rear cylinders being to hot but is the front cylinders being too cool
Whether its enough to cause detonation issues in the rear cylinders is up to your application. Maybe its not the rear cylinders being to hot but is the front cylinders being too cool
Originally Posted by SSblack98
Yeah nothing to worry about and its not like you have a choice!!! 
Originally Posted by cam
If your concerned it would be pretty easy to modify the rear pipes to go around the rear of the intake. Some guys have even taken a small die grinder to the bottom of the LS6 intake and made the stock LS1 pipes fit.
