Steam vents on Heads
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 32
Likes: 13
From: Plantsville, CT
Steam vents on Heads Swapping 243 heads on my 2004 GTO. The original setup has the rears plugged with only a front crossover.
Heads are now installed and I just noticed that these heads are not drilled at both ends, and I installed them with the vents at the rear.
Does it matter if the vent is at the rear versus front ?
Heads are now installed and I just noticed that these heads are not drilled at both ends, and I installed them with the vents at the rear.
Does it matter if the vent is at the rear versus front ?
They are drilled at both ends. They just have a special plug rivet in them on the end that used to be blocked off. They can be knocked out with a punch when they are off the car.
TECH Addict
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,180
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The ft is the higher point, on the heads. The vents should be at the ft.
If there's only 1 vent it needs to be at the highest point. With vents only at the rear, steam will probably accumulate in the head, and lead to hot spots.
You can get kits to make them all 4 corners as well. To avoid having to disturb the heads that might be the best thing to do. I kinda think you can use a sheet metal screw to pull those plugs out if you put the heads on the "wrong" way.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 32
Likes: 13
From: Plantsville, CT
Fortunately all I've done so far is bolted up the headers and the power steering pump. Didn't fill with coolant or oil yet either.
So for the cost of another set of head bolts and a few hours will be back to where it should be.
Thanks
So for the cost of another set of head bolts and a few hours will be back to where it should be.
Thanks
Just knock the rivets through, and fish them out through the water pump holes in the front of the block. No big deal.
