Water Pump By-pass????

[55 Fargo]

Okay, I have in the 55 Dodge a 251 engine with internal water pump bypass type block.

I do not have another internal by-pass, type t/stat housing or internal bypass water pump.

So I have installed an external by-pass water pump, and the external t/stat housing with short hose between the water pump and t/stat housing.

This will allow the water to circulate, as the older flatheads do, but the backing plate, is covering the internal by pass hole on the block.

Ideally I would have the internal by-pass water pump, and regular t/stat housing with no short hose connected to the water pump. I do not have any, is my thinking and assumption correct, will my water now circulate as an external water pump by-pass.

Any suggestions.....thanx Fred

[YukonJack]

I did the same thing and haven't had a problem. I believe a 318 thermostat housing is pretty close to the stock one if you wanted to go back.

[55 Fargo]

Thanx Yukon Jack, that is what I figure too, if the internal by-pass is sealed off, and the external is open, has to work. Gonna investigate the 318 housing, they should still sell those new at NAPA....