Cooling system outlet

[Vintageant]

1973 1592 cc engine. For what purpose is the cooling system outlet at the rear of the left side cylinder head, just behind the rear part of the inlet manifold? Mine is blocked off with a hose and a bolt held in by a hose clamp! Can't be right!

Thanks!

[18Fiatsandcounting]

That sounds like the coolant connection for the water (coolant) activated choke on the carburetor. Someone must have replaced the carb with one with an electric (or manual) choke and just plugged up the now useless hose.

The other end of that choke coolant line is a connection on the heater pipe that runs under the exhaust manifold, towards the rear of the engine. Take a look, and you might another plugged connection there.

-Bryan

[Vintageant]

Thanks Bryan! Correct you are! I have a dash mounted manual choke, which I actually prefer.

Perhaps I could fit a thermometer there, like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Liquid-Filled- ... 3791552234

John

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Cool beans. I know it's not pretty and the purists will cringe, but the "bolt in the end of an unneeded hose connection secured with a hose clamp" method does work, and if you ever decide to return to the original automatic choke setup, you're good to go!

-Bryan

[SteinOnkel]

Cool beans. I know it's not pretty and the purists will cringe, but the "bolt in the end of an unneeded hose connection secured with a hose clamp" method does work, and if you ever decide to return to the original automatic choke setup, you're good to go!

-Bryan

Unless you punch it and the pressure becomes too great. Instead of a block off, I would re-install any old hose to just have it "flow in a circle" if that makes sense. So just go from the heater pipe to the outlet on the head, done diesel.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Instead of a block off, I would re-install any old hose to just have it "flow in a circle" if that makes sense. So just go from the heater pipe to the outlet on the head, done diesel.

^^^ An even better solution.

-Bryan

[Vintageant]

Thanks guys!

Actually this engine is in a Lotus 7, which has no heater, so I'll have to look under the exhaust manifold on the other side to see what's there.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Actually this engine is in a Lotus 7, which has no heater, so I'll have to look under the exhaust manifold on the other side to see what's there.

There were 2 types of heater pipes over the years, one with a connection for the coolant-driven automatic choke and one without. Your heater pipe may have the choke coolant connection plugged off, or perhaps the pipe was replaced with the version without the connection. By the way, here's what the heater pipe with the choke coolant nipple looks like:
https://autoricambi.us/heater-pipe-fiat-124-1975-85/

-Bryan