[FrankG]

Wanted to remove the heater hose inserts going into the ls3 water pump and plug them. What's the easiest way to get them out without damaging the water pump? Thanks Frank

 

[blackonblacksls]

Grab them with vice grips or Chanel locks and man handle them

 

[sprayedenali]

little heat, lot of pulling

i used a chisel and "crimped" the fittings so they could slide right out

 

[zbrown]

Yup grip with vice grip in a serious way. Right out

 

[gray86hatch]

Just loop the hose. The water will not flow past the t stat correctly with plugs in them.

Tim

 

[3 window]

I actually just did this on my ls3 pump 3 days ago. I was able to get them to move but couldn't pull them out. I ended up tapping them back and forth until they loosened up, then they came right out. I figured I'd look at the pump and figure out why or why not plug the heater ports. After studying the pump and the water flow, I understand why people run hot. Looking at the pump, there are two sets of holes. The lower holes lead to the block, the upper holes come from the heads. The upper (head) ports are also connected to the REAR heater port. The FRONT heater port is connected to the lower (block) ports of the water pump. So, as coolant flows, it comes from the radiator, through the thermostat, through the block, up through the heads, out the water pump, to the HEATER CORE (back across the thermostat) and to the radiator. Now, if your thermostat has the plate that blocks off the front and rear passages of the water pump, with the heater hose blocked, there's no way for the hot coolant to get to the thermostat to open it, resulting in the car running hot. Make sense?! Some run the ports blocked, but there are a couple different style thermostats available. One has 3 or 4 holes in the block off plate. These holes would allow hot coolant to get to the thermostat with the heater ports plugged (essentially looping them together). I actually drilled a 1/4 inch holes my water pump next to the hole that the block off plate sits in in order to allow the coolant to pass by the thermostat making the thermostat open once the coolant is hot enough. As long as you have some way to have coolant pass over the thermostat, I think you'll be okay. Hope this makes sense.

 

[mufflerguy]

Slide hammer makes easy short work of it.

 

[FrankG]

Yeah that makes sense. I'll take my stat out and have a look inside

 

[mufflerguy]

Slide hammer makes easy short work of it.

I just did mine. Use the threaded rod attachment, reached inside and used the correct size washer and a nut. 3 pulls. Done.