'76 DeVille - Bypass or plug heater hoses?

[mgbeda]

I'm hoping to start Bessie's rebuilt engine soon.  I'm installing the radiator and cooling system, but I don't want to install the heater core at this point because I'm still stripping the body and don't want anything attaching the body to the engine.

What's better, to fashion a bypass pipe to let water flow out the rear heater outlet and then back into the radiator, or just plug off that back outlet and the radiator inlet?

I think more water flow is better, but then I think when the heater is off, the heater valve shuts off that flow path anyway, right?  And of course plugging things is easier.

Opinions?

Thanks,

-mB

[TJ Hopland]

Personally I think I would do the bypass thing but it really should not matter.   The water control valve is only closed in 'max ac' mode so most of the time its open.   Since its closed during max ac that should be the most demanding for cooling and apparently it still worked so maybe plugging will be fine too.

[Scot Minesinger]

Agree, does not really matter