Engine and Transmission Tech

I have a Ford 302 and I am trying to figure out where to attach my cabin heater hoses. I figure I can take one hose off of the capped nipple at the front of the water pump (in the first picture). Can I use where I am pointing for the other hose?








Thanks,


George

George, for most 302s there is a set of heater tubes that fit in between the passenger side valve cover and the carb or EFI unit. One end has a threaded nut that screws into the opening you're pointing at in the the picture, the other tube at the front of the motor is open and you connect it to the second outlet on the water pump (also correctly identified in your picture). There's a tab at the back of the tube set that goes under one of the intake manifold bolts.

You's need a barbed fitting for the pump side. Two open ends at the rear of the motor go to inlet/outlet connections on your heater. Tube set is commonly available at most Mustang suppliers, boneyards, etc.

Quite a few of the Mustang crowd also scrap the stock tube set-up in favor of AN lines. Whichever you choose, the connections are still the same.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/24/2011 09:16AM by DC Townsend.

When plumbing heater hoses always look for a suction line to the water pump and a pressure line somewhere prior to the thermostat, so that you get pressurized heated water. As shown this is usually on the water pump inlet and on the intake manifold. You'll want to run the line from the manifold to the lower fitting on the heater core so that the suction line removes any air from the core, sometimes you can see which one to use, sometimes you'll have to look at a parts drawing to tell. Some cars have to have the air "burped" from the return line before the heater will work, but this is fairly uncommon.

JB

Jim and Dave have the right logic/approach.

Cheers, Jacques

Thanks guys; more great advice.


George

George,

Here's a pic of the tube assembly. These are available new for around $100 but you can frequently find them on e-Bay or through any one of the numerous Mustang forums for about $25-$30. I've plumbed my heater both ways - with the factory assembly and without. The factory tubes are not only easy but the make a super clean installation. You can see the one end that screws into the top of the manifold.
Bung on top of the tube can be used for your temp sender.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/24/2011 08:42PM by DC Townsend.

If you're trying to keep the engine bay as clean as possible, is there any reason not to use one of the threaded ports on the rear crossover passage on the intake for the hose that goes to the manifold? That's how I plumbed mine. That let me run the hose from the water pump down by the frame rail below the headers so it's only visble where it comes up the firewal & turns into the cabin. The 2nd hose comes out near that & runs along the back of the motor to a port on the crossover.

David and Rob,

Do you have pictures of the final set-up?


Thanks,

George

I'll take a picture this evening when I get home. Engine is currently out of the car but it will give you an good idea of the hook up at the front. My personal experience with the MGB outlet/inlets and the Ford heater tube assembly is that it only requires two small pieces of heater hoses to complete the connections (outboard hose to outboard connection, inboard to inboard). I went down to my local parts store and sorted through their collection of miscellaneous hoses and found two molded pieces that look "factory". I'm sorry to say that I don't recall (and didn't write down) what they were from. Never thought it would be of much importance.

I have these pics George. This 1st pic shows the water pump connection. My water pump had a 90* (maybe more than 90*) so the hose naturally goes down & I routed along the frame rail & then up at the firewall. Your water pump doesn't appear to have that bend so you'd need to fabricate it, find some sort of adapter, or swap out water pumps. I'll have to get the PN/application now that I realize there's more than one short nose 302 water pump. I'll post an update when I get that but if you need it faster call Vintage Air & ask their tech. It is the pump that came with my Front Runner system so they should be able to tell you what they use.


2nd pic shows the manifold fitting I used. This pic has the heater (Vintage Air Gen II Mini heat & AC which is inside the cabin) bypassed, but you can see the fittings I got (from Summit or Jegs, I don't recall). They pass through the existing heater shelf holes. The plastic 90* heater bends are available at most auto parts stores.


Hope that helps George.

Rob,

Thanks! I don't need the part number. I can rig something up now.


George