Richard,

No, the restrictor is only so that the front heater gets adequate
coolant flow, most of the warm coolant would take the path of least
resistance through the shorter route via the rear heater without it.

These units fail because they are not beefy enough to last the number of
years these vehicles are on the road, and they are usually left with the
valve open, hence constantly cycling from cold to hot and back.  If you
want a little longer life shut off the valve in the summer.

Richard Bias wrote:
>
> All, (especially those of us who have or are dealing with the "rear heater
> caper")
>
>   I have been thinking about this for a while now and would like some
> feedback on my theory...  Could our rear heater trouble be caused by the
> "missing restrictor"?  I seem to recall that Bentley told me to expect a
> restrictor in one of the lines to the rear heater.  I did not find one in my
> Van and I am wondering if the lack of a restrictor wreaked havoc on the
> heater core.  Any thoughts...
>    Rich and Annemarie
>    85 GL "Buba"
>    98 Bug
> ________________________________________________________________________
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--
Stuart MacMillan
Seattle

'84 Vanagon Westfalia
'65 MGB (Driven since 1969)
'74 MGB GT (Restoring)

Assisting on Restoration:
'72 MGB GT (Daughter's)
'64 MGB (Son's)

Parts cars:
'68 & '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT