Sorry for the caps in the title, it's just getting to that time of the year where heat is mandatory.

Just bought my T/A last month and it turns out the heater core is not hooked up. Not having the RPO Codes for my car makes it a bit more difficult, but I'm still on the hunt to get it working.

Currently, my upper radiator hose is hooked directly to the top Tuned Port valve. The heated core is completely bypassed.

Judging by the parts list below, I would need to use a heater bypass valve, or not use it depending on the stock RPO's. The only other problem is not having the heater outlet pipe, and not being able to obtain one. Is this pipe necessary? It seems as though it'd just more convenient due to the hose not being as pliable as a pre-bent tube. Perhaps the smaller size prevents the heater core from too much pressure?

 

The reason it's probably bypassed is because it's no good. I'd say you probably need to replace your heater core. You'll know because as soon as you hook it up it'll leak all over the carpet by where the passengers feet go. You don't need that heater valve. Just run one line into the heater core and another line out of it. I had one line coming out of my radiator into the heater core and the other came from the side of the throttle body.

 

Yeah, I figured that was a possibility. But I thought for the best and figured when they dropped the new engine in they didn't hook it up, or removed it when they removed the A/C.

As for the metal pipes, are the necessary, or can I just use a few fittings to make it bend properly into place?

 

Not sure if they're absolutely necessary but I'd try and fine one. The hoses would be damn close the exhaust manifolds and could possibly melt. If you went to a junkyard they'd probably have. Every third gen at a yard around here seems to have it.

 

Well, let's hope my local one has a few sitting around . Whoever swapped this engine did a REAL shoddy job. Heat isn't hooked up, Oil Cooler isn't hooked up, and hell I actually think the tranny cooler isn't hooked up :|.

 

Im pretty sure that only cars with ac came with that valve. My understanding is that it redirects coolant flow away from the heater core when ac is on to increase effectiveness.

 

My 86 didn't have one and it had AC and all. Car was 100% stock when I bought it as well and I am only the 3rd owner so I doubt it was tampered with. Sure looked all original at least. Maybe it was available on the later models?

I'd still bet that your heater core is shot. How much harder would it have been to attach the lines to the core than just attach them together? Before you hook it all up, run a garden hose into one end and a drainage hose into the other and run water through it for a minute or so. Then check the floor for drips. Water will be much easier to get off your carpet than antifreeze, and the smell sucks. I replaced my carpet after my heater core went!

 

Before 1987 the heater bypass valve didn't exist on third gens... However on 87 up Camaros and Firebirds, with A/C the valve is used to bypass the flow of hot water away from the heater core to increase the A/C efficiency.

The difference between the two diagrams is A/C or not A/C.

If you're only worried about HEAT you don't need the bypass valve. Follow the diagram on the right and you'll have heat assuming your heater core isn't full of holes.

 

My original heater core broke(Sputum of anti-freeze was all over the passenger side) My dad bypassed it for me. He was original owner so i know it's all stock. Then i tried to remove the heater core myself but there's one damn screw that you need a special socket extension for. So,i brought it to the radiator repair. 8 hrs later he fixed it. I watched him do all of it. Just buy upper and lower heater hoses and run them to the firewall. Hopefully you wont have a pond on your passenger side. I know it's not the smartest way but its good to diagnose if the heater core is good or not.