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What is the real purpose of the steam vents on the heads?

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Old 03-12-2014, 11:10 PM
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Originally Posted by oakley6575
They are for the air bubbles that collect at the top of the heads. The air bubbles cause hot spots, overheating, warping, ect. The steam vents catch the air bubbles and recirculate them out of the head.
Old 03-27-2014, 05:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Atomic
Just redid mine to this:
Where does the line run to on yours, Atomic? To the coolant tank?
Old 03-27-2014, 07:05 AM
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The fitting on the radiator.
Old 03-27-2014, 11:46 AM
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Is there a reason why the factory hardline to all four corners isn't used more often? Seem like the $30 for that on ebay is way better than the cost of all the fittings and lines I see in above pics. Here's a picture of what I'm talking about.

Old 03-27-2014, 11:57 AM
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I cant see the pic (at work), but if its the LS1 coolant thing then it doesnt work without modifying the bottom of the intake to fit. Aftermarket intakes....good question...
Old 03-27-2014, 12:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Jeebalow
Is there a reason why the factory hardline to all four corners isn't used more often? Seem like the $30 for that on ebay is way better than the cost of all the fittings and lines I see in above pics. Here's a picture of what I'm talking about.

That's what I use.
Old 03-27-2014, 12:18 PM
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I use the 4-corner steam tubes also. The back two ports were blocked from the factory, but I figured there would be no harm in opening them up. The came stock on LS1's, so they are easy to find for sale on Tech.

I'm curious if perhaps they also let out steam in the event of an overheat and the coolant actually begins to boil in the motor. The steam, being a gas, would rise to the top of the heads, so perhaps these tubes let the steam escape from the motor where it can cool down into a liquid again? Just a thought.
Old 03-27-2014, 12:27 PM
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Originally Posted by smokeshow
That's what I use.
What intake are you running?
Old 03-27-2014, 12:37 PM
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I'm looking for a steam vent solution under my edelbrock pro-flo right now. Curious to here what intake you are running that under. Would It be easier to just build these lines or use the ls1 setup?
Old 03-27-2014, 12:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Jeebalow
What intake are you running?
Edelbrock pro-flow. Pretty sure I've also used it with the GMT-900 intake though.

Last edited by smokeshow; 03-27-2014 at 12:56 PM.


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