Goes from one head to the other then to the radaitor. Whats that for? And can i get rid of the tube that goes down the side of the intake and into the rad. but leave the crossover tube?

 

That tube is for the coolant (reversed cooled, cools the heads first instead of a traditional SBC) from each head connects to the single tube that goes up to the rad. You need to keep it. You could always go 6an with some fittings to make it look really nice.

 

Like T/A KID said, you need to keep it.

 

The tube is to relieve steam pockets that may form in the heads. You need to leave all of it for it to do it's job.

 

its called a coolant crossover tube, and i think its supposed to keep air bubbles from forming in the coolant. I think a few guys have deleted it without issue, but i wouldn't do it.

 

Seemingly without issue, becuase hot spots cannot be monitored by engine temp. Air bubbles can make extremely hot spots in the relatively fragile aluminum heads, and you would never know because the car could still be running nice and cool engine temp wise.

Dont get rid of them.

 

seems like a touchy subject, lol. Ill leave it on

 

mines been gone for over 2 years and no problems I THINK ITS CALLED A STEAM TUBE ,used allen head pipe plugs .some say yay some say nay

 

When i started my build from a blown head gasket, i noticed my steam tube was clogged 100%, not sure if it contributed to the gasket going but its possible

 

Air or steam pockets have a hard time going down through the block to find their way out of the engine. Goofy the was gasses like to float on water.

The tube allows the air or steam an escape point up high.

You will find those who take the time to UNDERSTAND things often have very different opinions from the masses.

 

id love to get rid of it, wonder if it would work for someone who bleeds there coolant the right way.

 

IMO, keeping all of the reverse flow cooling components that GM designed intact is probably worth the "hassle" of doing it right. I left mine in.

 

I had mine in when I built my Engine. The LS Engines have it too, I have the one on mine that comes from each corner of the Heads.

 

I am in the process of putting my car back together.... does it make any difference whether or not the crossover is on the front or back of the heads.... given these are aftermarket heads with machined threads on each end and this is far from a daily driver? - thanks

 

All of the heads are identical castings (symmetry wise). You can use a head on either side, the bolt holes are identical front and back, side and side. So while you technically could hook up some kind of tube in the front (which would require you to ditch the accessory bracket), I think the tube is on the back for a reason, the inlets from the pump is right at the front, so I don't think any hot spots would develop there. If someone insists on removing the steam pipe, at the VERY LEAST they should hook up a crossover tube connecting the two heads, but that wouldn't be much different than just leaving the tube there, but I guess you would have less clutter if you didn't see it.

 

unless you have deleted all the accessories on the front of the heads i dont think it would even fit. the "front" holes are plugged. just curious, why would you want it on the front anyway?

 

Because he stripped the holes out in the back. My opinion i would move it to there back. He is running a turbo lt1 so why chance the risk of hot spots or over heating on a project with so much effort and money into it. The way i understand it the air bubbles collect in that back of the heads and that's why its located there. JMO

 

im glad you have time to mess around on here when your at work.... lol

 

The only MOD to the steam pipe I would recommend would be a TB bypass, where you just run the line straight from the heads to the rad, instead of the TB.