my truck heater core let go to the point there was so much steam i had to pull over, so i vice gripped off both hoses going to it. the core was leaking for a while but off and on and lately it would run a little hot then cool down then run hot but now that i viced griped it it stoped. i know i need to replace the core but till i get the cash can i keep it viced griped

 

I am by no means a mechanic but I would assume that since you are Cutting off the flow it would be a bad idea, I could be wrong.

Why don't you just connect the hose going into the heater core to the hose coming out of the heater core so the heater core is bypassed but the coolant can still circulate

 

For years the temperature controls on heaters blocked the flow when turned to off and didn't hurt a thing.

 

You can either just bypass the heater core by using some type of coupler. Or just keep it pinched off.

 

99ram is dead on, just bypass the heater core all together, it's easy and you don't even need to buy any parts.... Just have to crawl up in the engine bay enough to get the clamps off the hose's enough to pull 'em loose...hardest part of the whole darn job.

Edit: My heater core is bypassed at this very moment......

 

Yep had to love those cable opt in-line valves that when in the hose, older yet the gate valve on the block.