water valve purpose?

Ok fellas, on my 1975 Slant six Scamp, I removed all the AC system parts under the hood but.....
There is a "water valve" mounted on the right inner fender which the 1/2" heater hose runs to and another 1/2" hose on the other end goes to the heater core. Do I still need this valve? Can I just use a new hose and remove the water valve and run the hose directly from the water pump to the heater core?

My buddy said the car will continually have water running to the heater core. I thought it runs to the core when the temp selector is moved to "heat" inside the car. Help.

The temp selector is what controls the valve, so yes if you remove it the heater core will always have hot water running through it.

Heck, on most my cars/ trucks I install a brass 1/4 turn ball valve to shut the thing completely out in the summer. It's the only way to insure the vent system does not pick up residual heat from leakage, as factory water valves are NOTORIOUSLY leaky (throughput, not outside the system)

A 3/8" pipe ball valve and a long 3/8 nipple sawed in half makes perfect size for 5/8 heater hose.

Thanks guys for the quick responses! So on my 68 RR, that temp control on the dash only operates a door to let the heat from the heater core enter the fan area and give me heat. There is always heat going to it, right?

67cudafb said:

The temp selector is what controls the valve, so yes if you remove it the heater core will always have hot water running through it.

Click to expand...

Xs2.

roadrunnerh said:

Thanks guys for the quick responses! So on my 68 RR, that temp control on the dash only operates a door to let the heat from the heater core enter the fan area and give me heat. There is always heat going to it, right?

Click to expand...

That's pretty much it. Actually, the temp lever opens a door that mixes fresh air with air passing through the heater core. Without mixing, there is no way to regulate the temperature.

The hot water valve shuts off flow to the heater core. Unfortunately, it does not shut off the return. The negative pressure created by this situation encourages the hot water shut off to leak creating some residual heat in the system.

To answer your original question, yes the valve can be removed although something needs to be done with the hoses that are open. Either install a splice or replace with a single run of hose. IMO the interior of the car will be warmer when the A/C is not being used than if the valve were in place and functioning.