I agree. There is no reason to shunt the heater. Cap off the hoses or
better yet, remove the tees and replace with straight fittings. Shunting
the rear heater will reduce flow to the front heater and yes, it will
also reduce available flow through the radiator.

Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of John Meeks
Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2004 9:57 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Removing the rear heater

George Goff wrote:
> In a message dated 4/11/04 7:21:44 PM, dochockin@TELUS.NET writes:
>
> << Any ideas what to do about the coolant feed hoses?
> Any tips or warnings >>
>
> Pinch off the hoses.  Remove the heater.  Connect the hoses to a
tubing
> nipple secured by hose clamps.  Remove the hose pinch clamps.  In
other words,
> shunt the rear heater circuit.
>
> A hose coupling for this purpose  in the correct size might be
available from
> an auto parts store.
>
> Do you really think the small amount of increased storage space is
necessary?
>
> George
>
> .
>
George,

I don't think shunting the rear heater circuit is a good idea. Hot
coolant would be allowed to recirculate back to the engine without
paying the radiator a visit.

The valve on the heater core, in the open position, allows only a
restricted flow of coolant through the circuit. In the closed position
the coolant flow is almost nothing.

Better to plug the hoses.

John Meeks
kc8zfn
'91 multivan
Vanagon Rescue Squad (156 volunteers)
http://www.vanagonauts.com/?catid=74