This is mostly an academic question. Not likely anyone will change the design of their coolant tube because of this post, because the existing tube design works just fine. The only reason to even consider doing so would be, say, if your coolant tube had irrepairable damage or leakage, you couldn't find a good replacement, and you found yourself fabbing your own coolant tube. As the years go by, perhaps more of us will find ourselves in such a situation. In any case I've wondered about it for some time...
In 1987 (or thereabouts), the Fiero's RHS (right-hand side) coolant tube was changed, to accept the heater core's return line connection at a new "branch" (port) located underneath the car, near the fuel filter area. It eliminated a similar port at the water pump (which was capped off, for the newer design), simplifying things a bit, and making the heater hose a little shorter.
Since the entire RHS coolant tube is plumbed to the suction side of the water pump, one might suspect that you could connect the heater (return) hose anywhere on that RHS tube, and it'd still work. So the question is: Why not just make the connection up at the
front end of the coolant tube - in other words, put a port (for heater return line) near the front compartment? Then you'd just run one heater hose (the return line) from the heater core down (like maybe 12") to the coolant tube. You could then eliminate one of the heater core pipes (if that's what you call them) that runs underneath the car from front to back.
Sure would simplify things. Sounds almost too simple. Is there some reason this wouldn't work? If so, wouldn't be the first time Stu overlooked the obvious
. Would be interested in your thoughts on this. Thanks in advance. . .
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[This message has been edited by StuGood (edited 05-20-2006).]
