Simply Put you don't do it. Some people have eliminated it when they've converter SBC Gen 1 heads to Gen II. Some other people have eliminated it by mistake. Just don't fuck with it.
I decided to just modify it and make it a little easier on the eyes. I bought two 1/4" NPT to 6AN fittings, screwed each into the back of each head. *I know it's a straight thread, but the NPT works too* then I got two 90degree 6AN hose ends to about 12" of 6AN braided on each side which converged to a Y fitting *6AN*, which I then routed to an Aeroquip 6AN socketless hose fitting, and then I ran Aeroquip non braided 6AN right to the passenger side nipple of the radiator, it looks badass, but kinda pricey.
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I decided to just modify it and make it a little easier on the eyes. I bought two 1/4" NPT to 6AN fittings, screwed each into the back of each head. *I know it's a straight thread, but the NPT works too* then I got two 90degree 6AN hose ends to about 12" of 6AN braided on each side which converged to a Y fitting *6AN*, which I then routed to an Aeroquip 6AN socketless hose fitting, and then I ran Aeroquip non braided 6AN right to the passenger side nipple of the radiator, it looks badass, but kinda pricey.
Yes, as did the LT4 and L99.
It is not some performance or emissions thing that could change over the years. Since the water enters the top of the motor and flows down air and steam would tend to get trapped in the highest point, which is the heads. The "steam pipe" is basically just a bleed to let air and steam escape without fighting gravity.
so the peoplle that remove the pipe and plugged the back of the heads, would get blown head gasket at cylinder 8 and 7 ?
that was my understanding of the purpose of them
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An engineer designed that tube for a reason. I'm sure he spent countless hours and days to do the research for that little part. Finally decides one day that the car will need it. Let alone the fact that he went to college for 6 or so years to get this degree... pretty sure not a community college only for some guy to pull the engine out to do his upgrades and look at the part and ask himself "what the hell is this" only for his friend to tell him "Oh it's just added extra weight, go ahead and take it off cause you don't need it"
Since the LT1 is reversed-cooled, all the Coolant hits the Heads first. It does flow down into the Block along the way, but it also heats up, making Steam pockets in there around 7 & 8. The Steam gets pushed through that line and into the Radiator, allowing Coolant to fill the Heads, not Steam.
Basically, don't fuck with it.
I'm currently in the process of modifying my coolant system to be plumbed somewhat similar to the 92 Corvette. In the 92 Vettes, they plumbed the steam pipe to feed into the heater core, and from there into the radiator overflow tank which was pressurized. Where mine differs is that it won't have the overflow tank in the loop. I'm going to screw a 1/2 NPT "T" fitting into the rear of the passenger's side head, use one side of the "T" to connect the driver's side head crossover hose, and the other side of the "T" for a 5/8" heater hose barb. Then I'm going to run a heater hose from the hose barb and feed it directly into the heater core. I will then only have one hose (return) running from the heater core to my water pump.
This pic shows a 92 Corvette water pump:
(for some reason the pump is upside down in both of these pics)
But you can see how there isn't any lower passenger's side hose barb installed in this model year of pump. On 93-97 F-bodies, this lower hose barb is the "outlet" port that runs to the heater core "inlet." The 92 Vette pumps didn't have this port because the "outlet" was the steam pipe.
I'm drilling the steam holes out to a 1/2" NPT size hole, (3/4" fitting), so I'm hoping that the added port and hose diameter will help scavenge heat from the heads more efficiently.
This is one way to "eliminate" the steam pipe.
Last edited by thesoundandthefury; 05-14-2007 at 11:53 AM..
well the reason i asked, i came across this thread and got a little worried, because ive been running with out steam pipe for over 5 years now. (so far nothing happend) well i plan to buy the steam pipe and install it ASAP.
blew my old engine and I'm pretty sure it had something to do with that "mod".. hehe.. was only 2-3 months after doing that and I was burning coolant like a mo-fo! I did it not knowing its true purpose and cause the pipe had sprung a tiny leak one day. I just removed and capped it like described above . big mistake.
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I decided to just modify it and make it a little easier on the eyes. I bought two 1/4" NPT to 6AN fittings, screwed each into the back of each head. *I know it's a straight thread, but the NPT works too* then I got two 90degree 6AN hose ends to about 12" of 6AN braided on each side which converged to a Y fitting *6AN*, which I then routed to an Aeroquip 6AN socketless hose fitting, and then I ran Aeroquip non braided 6AN right to the passenger side nipple of the radiator, it looks badass, but kinda pricey.
elimintaing steam pipe ?s 
only for some guy to pull the engine out to do his upgrades and look at the part and ask himself "what the hell is this" only for his friend to tell him "Oh it's just added extra weight, go ahead and take it off cause you don't need it" 
