350: Coolant flow when t/stat closed?
 

My '70 C10 is not fitted with a cabin heater (yet). Beside hoses from water pump and t/stat cover to radiator, there are no other coolant hoses. 350 SBC (Gen 1 -I think...).

Am I right by saying that there will be zero coolant flow while the t/stat is closed?

If I am wrong, please explain to me what route is available to coolant while the t/stat is closed.

Re: 350: Coolant flow when t/stat closed?
 

You should have a bypass built into the water pump if everything is original. If it has aftermarket or vortec heads it probably doesn't have a bypass. Either way it's good idea to add a bypass hose.

Re: 350: Coolant flow when t/stat closed?
 

The water pump has a bypass built into it on those era vehicles. You could buy a truck with no heater and they worked fine without a bypass hose. I don't know about LS or Vortech, you'd have to check that out. Can you show us a picture of the engine?