Heat Riser...

[JTraik]

The heat riser for my '68 is giving me issues.  I know these things are rarer than hens teeth so instead of scouring the globe I was just going to gut it, seal up the bores and then reinstall it.    I this car will never be started below 50F and most of its use will be in the summer.  Will disabling this feature be more of an inconvenience than a problem?

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

When you say "issues" do you mean it's sticking?  That's a common problem, but is easily
cured by lubricating the spring and shaft with a graphite / alcohol mix that's sold for the
purpose.  The alcohol easily evaporates and leaves the graphite behind.  It's sold as "Lock-Ease"
since it's also used on locks.

Can you get along without it -- maybe.  But it will make your engine have a longer warm-up
time and rougher idle in the first ten minutes or so of running.

Mike

[JTraik]

Well it seems to have excessive play in the bores and also I cannot get it to fit on the manifold properly.  I believe the orientation of the counterweight on the shaft is in the wrong position so it does not open and close properly because the weight hits the frame.... if anyone has pictures I would appreciate it if I could look at them of the part installed.     The spring properly contracts with heat.

[TJ Hopland]

I have had several cars with them not working and it does not seem to make much difference in warm up time even in the winter.  Mine have all ended up in the open position and rusting themselves that way.  I have not had one with worn bores so I dont know how long it will take for a worn one to self seal.