Help to simplify cooling system?
 

My Cig 28SS Has got hoses running everywhere. I'd really like to simplify this system but I'm not sure what I can get away with. Here's what I got for each engine, which are small blocks with TRS.

From the transom pickup, a hose goes to a three way valve which allows a garden hose to be inserted for flushing. Then another hose to the inlet of the sea water pump.

From the sea water pump, there's a hose to a tee fitting that distributes to each "side" of the engine. Each of those hoses has a tee fitting that distributes to an inlet at the top of a thermostat housing (Gil 117044) and to the front of the block, where a conventional water pump would be.

From the outlets of the thermostat housing are another two hoses, agan, one for each "side" of the engine, each going to another tee. One side of the tee goes to the inlet of the exhaust manifold and the other goes to a transom dump regulated by a ball valve.

At the very least, I'd like to eliminate the initial three way valve but I want to maintain the ability to flush the engines. How is this typically done with a transom pickup water inlet?

Any suggestions?

Re: Help to simplify cooling system?
 

Would be easier with some pics......i get lost when you say "Each side of the engine"??? At first i thought you were saying that the hose gets split and runs to where the conventional water pump would be...then i read farther and saw you mention it later. SO now i'm confused....

Re: Help to simplify cooling system?
 

Thought that would happen. Took me a while to figure it out even looking at the engine. I've got a sketch. I'll see if I can't clean it up and post it somehow.

Maybe this'll help... ...after the tee downstream of the sea water pump it's as though there are two separate cooling circuits. One for each side of the engine.

BTW - Wally, I think this boat that has your old windshield on it.

Re: Help to simplify cooling system?
 

Did you buy this boat from Eric? From MI?
If you cant post a pic then email it to me and i'll post it for ya
bigblockwally @hotmail.com

Re: Help to simplify cooling system?
 

Here's a diagram...

Re: Help to simplify cooling system?
 

Even though system looks complicated--it's got some great features--multiple fresh water flush ports--which can also be sued to let system ingest anti-freeze as part of winterization process.

I'd be inclined to leave alone--as soon as you change one theing there will be 3 more that will jump out and bite ya--

Re: Help to simplify cooling system?
 

And by my count, 30 potential leaks per engine.

Re: Help to simplify cooling system?
 

Those 30 leaks still dont add up to the potential of 1 water pump. But if you want simple:
Pickup to water pump. Water pump to a crossover with bypass (from stanless marine or whoever). Thermostat housing to manifolds and dump thru the exhaust.
BTW, I'm not sure if your "ball valve pressure dump" is set up propoerly. It soulds af it maintains backpressure in the system but doesn't prevent overpressure.
With your setup, I suspect you dont have a thermostat. A restrictor should be in place of the thermostat, that will maintain pressure in the block.
Gary

Re: Help to simplify cooling system?
 

By the looks of it to me it looks like you are asking for an overheating situation on the rear cylinders.....if the supply lines are feeding the ports where the conventional water pump is supposed to be mounted AND going up and feeding the thermostsat housing at the same time how do you get circulation into and through the block??? The front cylinders i can see staying somwhat cool because of the cold lake water.....the water inthe back cylinders i think would be at a standstill? Anyone care to comment on my thoughts? i may be lookng at this wrong......

Re: Help to simplify cooling system?
 

The engines seem to run OK like this, but...

Wally, you're seeing the same thing I am. Any Chevy (exluding new reverse cooling engines) I've ever worked on had inlet at front of the block (where an circulating water pump would be) and exit through the manifold.

Gary, the ball valves tend to regulate the amount of water to the manifolds, which are old Stainless Marine log style contraptions.

I'm gonna take the Gil thermostat housing apart and see how it may route water to keep from short circuiting through the front of the block.

Found a pic!

Thanks Guys - I'll look forward to more comments!

Re: Help to simplify cooling system?
 

Did you by chance draw the diagram wrong?? Looking at the engine pic it looks like the upper ports of the thermostat have a "T" that gets routed to the side. Are you sure the supply lines that join the ports where the water-pump would be are not tied to this? And the lower ports of the thermostat housing go to the exhaust logs? if thats the case then it would work just fine. Water going to the top of the thermostat housing would be the same as the bypass on a conventional water pump.....the "T" and the side exit would be you bleed off valves i think. So as the block heats up the thermostat opens and lets out hot water...that would be mixing in a little with cold water and going into the exhaust.
The transom water dumps may or may not be for water psi relief.......may be that the exhaust works better a little dryer.....

Re: Help to simplify cooling system?
 

Here is a diagram that shows how the thermostat kit you have works. Hope this helps you out.

Any questions, please give us a call.

Re: Help to simplify cooling system?
 

Thanks Guys, the diagram from CP is great, that lends a lot of credibility to what's on the boat.

Wally, yeah, the diagram and circuiting are correct, even though, from looking at the boat it doesn't immediately look like it. I think the best I'm going to do is reroute the hoses to get things looking better.

I would like to change the three way valve that allows the engines to be run on a hose. There are some 1 1/4" inline fittings with an inlet tee available. But if this is placed inline upstream of the sea water pump, what keeps the water from draining out through the transom mounted water inlet? The pic shows the water pickups as well as the cooling water pee holes in the transom just outboard of the swim platform.

John