I recently bought a 92 Camaro and was wondering if I run a hose from the radiator to the heater core to the intake, would I still be able to switch between a/c and heat. What is the function of the water control/bypass valve anyways?

 

You would be heating the core all the time. I haven't ever tried it but I imagine the AC will be much warmer also. The bypass valve shuts the heater core loop off when the AC is turned on from my understanding. That's controlled by the vacuum line on the top of the valve.

 

Are the valves prone to fail?

 

i assume you are talking about the heater diverter valve . yes they fail often , yes they are available , yes they are cheap , G.M. used the same valve on many cars . to replace them is easy . ck. all vacuum lines & coolant lines , replace . good luck .

 

Mine actually failed by developing a crack at the fitting meeting the valve housing. I developed a small leak which eventually led to it just snapping off when tightening a hose. I got my replacement from GMPartsDirect I think.

 

How do the heater lines run through it? What I need is a diagram so I can make sure on how all the lines for the heater run. The guy I bought the car from butchered the heater hoses pretty bad. I have worked on 4 bangers all my life so I'm new to the v8 scene. I feel stupid, sorta.

 

Diagram I have is for a 87-91 with 5.0/5.7L with option W/C60, C67

I show valve as part 14101545.

The valve has 3 hose nipples on it. One on the side towards motor and 2 on the side towards the firewall. Motor side hose is 5/8x25 part 12322342 and runs from valve to the throttle body. I would just recommend getting a replacement one out of a regular heater hose it doesn't look molded in the picture. Bottom of the 2 nipples is showing as inlet hose to the outer (passenger side most) fitting on the core. Other nipple on the valve is showing as bypass valve outlet which goes to the metal hardline which should be on the passengerside. It connects to the middle nipple of the hardline. Hardline is labeled as Pipe outlet part 14101549. Finally the pipe outlet has a hose in the front connected to the radiator heater hose fitting, which is showing as 3/4" hose. The other end of the metal hardline pipe outlet appears to use a molded hose to the inner most heater core fitting. Hose is labeled as Outlet (heater to pipe) part 10135312. I'd provide the diagram but techincally it's copyrighted GM material.

That should at least get you thinking in the right direction.

 

Awesome description! Thanks a ton!

 

I deleted mine way back when I had AC. If you've opened the interior HVAC ducting up youd see the heater core is completely blocked off by a flapper. This stays closed whenever you dont want heat coming out. Deleting the valve will not make your AC any less cold

GM put it there for core longevity. Later they found it really didnt make any difference if coolant was constantly circulating or never. They wear out about the same time

 

Generally, when you get into your car and it's HOT!!! inside after sitting in the sun.....and you want to cool off the interior fast....when turning on the A/C to MAX A/C...the coolant flow to the heater control valve is shut off not allowing the coolant to warm up the air box in the cabin where the heater core is...thus allowing to coldest amount of air into the interior of the car. When turned to Normal A/C or Bi-Level the water is circulated to allow the heat temp control to adust the temp desired coming out of the vents.

 

So deleting the valve and just having permanent flow through the core will not adversely affect the a/c at all? By the way, on the valve, is the fat part where the vacuum line goes the top or the bottom of the valve?

 

I've seen them up and down in several cars - angle doesn't matter.

And yes you can delete it - taking it out just means you'll have hot coolant running through the heater core all the time - might make cabin temps a tad warmer, but I never noticed it - I've deleted it as well as A/C - I never used A/C, I love having the T-Tops out too much! You just have to reroute the heater hoses.