Thermostat housing, safe to blank off one outlet?

[Cartoony]

Is it safe to blank off the single 19mm stat housing outlet on the inlet side of the engine?
The similar size one on the exhaust size goes to the submarine pipe to the bottom of the rad.
2.0L blacktop.
thanks

[katana]

Not really advised as these provided water flow around the motor whilst stat is closed - no flow and hot spots occur.

[Cartoony]

Thanks for the reply.
I thought the 19mm pipe on the exhaust was the bypass which does what you describe.
I understood that the inlet side one was the heater pipe?

[katana]

All your terms are relative depending on whether FWD or RWD and using stock thermostat housing or aftermarket for RWD?

[Cartoony]

RWD, going in a caterham. Would a pic of the stat housing help? I don't know whether it's stock or aftermarket it was on the engine when I bought it.

[katana]

If its Black and plastic, its a stock one and looking at the one I took off (as my zetec went into an escort) I could only figure out a couple of connections! I'll have another look later today ........ if I still have it!

[Cartoony]

It looks like you describe. The heater connection is the single one on the right in the pic, this is the one I'm asking about. Pic to follow shortly

[Cartoony]