I did the TB coolant bypass a while back and I really don't like seeing that coolant hose looping over from the intake to that thing over top of the valve cover. So I was just wondering if I could plug the coolant hole in the intake and in that thing over the valve cover and eliminate that hose altogether or does it have to be there. Also what is that thing over the valve cover that the coolant goes in to called?????

 

It's a heater bypass valve. Blocking off the coolant coming from the intake will keep coolant from going to your heater core unless you re-route the other hoses (still not sure it'd work). The '85 (and maybe '86) F-bods didn't have one, and eliminating it requires a different bottom heater hose pipe (the one laying on the sub-frame rail). When I did my engine swap this summer, I replaced that heater hose pipe, removed the bypass valve, and routed the hose from the intake around to the heater hose going to the heater core. Makes the engine compartment cleaner and easier to work on, and less chances of leaks.

------------------
Greg Westphal
'87 IROC 355TPI/A4