242LS - Thermostat housing checkballs
 

what are these??? I have the 4 port thermostat housing and have 4 ports y'ed together to make two ports to go to the water inlet on my gil exhaust. the upper two outlets have a checkball mechanism between them. i don't know if it is a backflow valve of some sort or what. But it appears to me it highly restricts the water flow out of these two passages. Leave it alone or remove?

Thanks,

Jimmy

Re: 242LS - Thermostat housing checkballs
 

that was easy!

Re: 242LS - Thermostat housing checkballs
 

These hi-tech balls on a rod allow some water to go to exhaust manifolds whilst t-stat is closed.

Re: 242LS - Thermostat housing checkballs
 

Since I have these outputs y'ed together should I remove these check balls to improve flow to the exhaust or leave it alone.

Re: 242LS - Thermostat housing checkballs
 

IMO you are best to leave it alone. There can be a lot of corrosion in that housing, best to make sure the passages are open and that the balls can kind of seat while you have it open.

Re: 242LS - Thermostat housing checkballs
 

Leave them in. They prevent water from flowing back into the motor from the risor tee. They are check valves and do not effect water flow as you would think. When the motor is up to temp and stat is open, most of the water flows out the 2nd set of ports.

Re: 242LS - Thermostat housing checkballs
 

I had a friend with a 1990 454 365 mag and he took the rods and balls out and it would run hot at idle.He could rev it up and it would cool down .

We put the balls and rods with the springs back and it ran cool at idle again.

Rob :drink:

Re: 242LS - Thermostat housing checkballs
 

After inspecting the check balls and springs I found one of the spring totally compressed and destroyed. I removed it and ran it last night and had no signs of the engine getting above 160. Should I replace the spring and replace or just go without it. Secondly what would cause the spring to fail like that.. Is that a sign of anything that you guys can think of other than just age. thanks for the replys.

Re: 242LS - Thermostat housing checkballs
 

My understanding is that the ball and rod thing allows some water to bypass and go to the headers whilst the t-stat is closed. Once the t-stat opens the springs close the balls in and forces most of the water to go through the motor. It seems like it would also bleed off excess pressure at high speed.

So to answer your question, the original configuration would probably be best for you.

Re: 242LS - Thermostat housing checkballs
 

Thanks for all the replies guys.. If my motor is staying cool then would having them out supply more water to the headers. I have had cracked exhast manifold before and It wouldn't hurt my feelings any to keep my new ones really nice and cool. What is the danger of not having them in. Thanks for the help...