Heater help

[poorpeet]

I'm just about to replace the heater valve as the old one leaks.
Looking at the hoses in the footwell I can see an H shaped pipe connector near the transmission tunnel. It links the flow & return pipes to the heater. Whats it for? Is it a bypass? Can I do away with it?
I was hoping to tidy up the pipe lay out & stop the footwell getting so hot even with the heater set to cold.

[spend]

No, it is the infamous bypass, which you need. When you close the heater valve it allows flow around the heads when the stat is shut, and prevents the pressure preventing the heater valve being blown open. Later cars have different ways of trying to achieve similar results

Dave

[poorpeet]

Thanks again Dave. What would I do without you?

[GreenV8S]

It's a heater bypass. I don't know what prompted TVR to fit it, but it may help bleed the heater circuit and it will also improve the water circulation slightly in very cold weather. The disadvantage is that the heater won't be as effective.