I have a RPM Air gap on my 454 with a long style water pump. Finding a bypass hose that doesn't pinch shut hasn't been fun. Has anyone used Russel fittings for this application ? Thanks, Jay

I have a RPM Air gap on my 454 with a long style water pump. Finding a bypass hose that doesn't pinch shut hasn't been fun. Has anyone used Russel fittings for this application ? Thanks, Jay
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I have just plugged it & used a Robert Shaw HP thermostat with the three holes in it & it worked just fine,,
You could also drill your Thermostat,, put three 1/8-3/16" holes to "bypass" when closed.
Also makes it a lot easier to fill the cooling system,,,

Not sure if this is any help or not but.....

I just installed my bbc bypass hose today. I just used two 5/8 hose fittings found in the HELP! aisle of Autozone and then I trimmed a piece of 5/8 hose until it fit between the two fittings without pinching.

Also, my intake is a performer rpm and not an airgap.

Like Mike mentioned...why bother?
I've plugged off the bypass fitting holes and use a Shaw thermo. NEVER a problem running hot. Even summer days, in traffic, here in the South.
And I've got more cubes to cool...

It's been blocked off since I built and installed it. I was going to drain it down and replace the thermostat so I thought why not hook it up. Thanks, Jay

I just did mine and was having the same problem:confused:.

What I have done to fix it is use a straight fitting on the water pump and a 45*fitting on the intake. With these 2 fittings it makes for a straight piece of hose.
http://img198.echo.cx/img198/754/hose4dx.th.jpg (http://img198.echo.cx/my.php?image=hose4dx.jpg)

Good idea, Shaun - wonder why GM didn't do that in the first place?

I use a cool-flex hose that is made especially for this. But drive my kinked hose for years and never had a problem.

Bring some cold Coke's and a tape measure into the parts store and ask for "brousing" privledges where they keep the pre-formed bypass/heater hoses. Usually you can find something that'll fit with a little trimming.

I went through piles of pre bent hoses and none seemed to work. I ordered a 45 degree this AM. Shaun hit the nail on the head,with his set up.

gates makes the right hose for the bypass i cant remember the number off hand.i worked for carquest just go in and have them look it up for a 68 396 and the number will come up.they only list it for 68 after that its just a 5/8 hose dont know why.i found the listing when i did my big block.


chris