shut off valve

[Kelly454]

I live in Texas and the heat is almost unbearable in my car this summer. I want to put in a manual hot water shut off valve in my car. After reading some post on it. My car has a 454 in it so I really don’t need a heater, and in this state, I only get couple of weeks of cold weather anyway. I would like to leave the stock heater control valve in the car where it is at, just because it is so hard to get to in a big block with AC. So my question is , can I do that and just put the manual one up stream of the stock unit, say closer to the intake manifold? Also if any one could suggest the best one to purchase. Also please post any photos of a similar system installed on a big block car. One more question on this topic how often should one open that valve? Any thing you guys could tell me would be most appreciated
And this winter lol, I plan on doing some projects with heat barrier material . Just want to do this quick fix now.
Kelly

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

If you've already got one shut off valve, assuming it works, adding a second one won't help anything.

If yours is not working and don't to fix it, Home Depot has all sorts of valves that will splice into the heater hose. Get one with barbed fittings, add two hoses clamps and install it wherever is convenient.

No need to open it unless you need heat.

 

[Kelly454]

Yeah I have a stock one that I put on new about two years ago. I assume that my vacuum is not strong enough to operate it. One of the future projects, to replace some vacuum hose and do a rebuild later. Just want to try an get some of that heat out of the cabin.
Kelly

 

[larryoinvirginia]

For what its worth, Here In Virginia beach it gets prety warm as well. On my 79 I will take the hoses from the core unit, and like mike said, go to home depot, buy a short piece of pipe with barbed ends, and connect the two heater line creating a loop just circulating continuous and bypass the core. Just make sure the line is supported back to the firewall or side so it doesnt hang loose. Not as convienent as a shut off valve but a little easier to set up. A Bubba fix but better than 120 degrees sittin in traffic. lol
Larry

 

[Kelly454]

Would one work on the car or do I need to put two on? One on each hose?

 

[n8dogg]

did same fix on my 79 went to napa and got shut off valve and two clamps for less than $15. just put it in one of the hoses witch ever one is most easily to get to. DO NOT!!! take the hoses off and loop them together unless you like to replace heater cores. don't ask me how i know what happens.

 

[JohnZ]

just put it in one of the hoses witch ever one is most easily to get to.

The shutoff valve goes in the 5/8" hose from the intake manifold fitting to the heater core inlet nipple.

 

[lucky76]

did same fix on my 79 went to napa and got shut off valve and two clamps for less than $15. just put it in one of the hoses witch ever one is most easily to get to. DO NOT!!! take the hoses off and loop them together unless you like to replace heater cores. don't ask me how i know what happens.

I agree, no water through the firewall is the way to go in these old cars. Use 2 cutoff valves, they are different sizes. Ask at Autozone, they have them.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

I agree, no water through the firewall is the way to go in these old cars. Use 2 cutoff valves, they are different sizes. Ask at Autozone, they have them.

The second valve would be redundant and serve no purpose. Heat does not 'sneak' it's way up the open line.

 

[DeeVeeEight]

Double gate ford valve

controls both heater hoses with one valve