What is this and what does it do?

[LukeZ]

Took it off to wire brush it and hopefully get rid of most of the rust. When I took off the very stubborn hoses, a small amount of a very foul smelling liquid cane out.

What is this and what does it do? There's also a few holes in the bottom of that too fish looking part. Are those supposed to be there? 5 holes.

 

[axisg]

its your heater control valve ( shuts off the flow of coolant to the heater core when the AC is turned on ). GM put them on nearly all vehicles in the 80's equipped with AC
They are only $15 or so to replace it with a new one ( plastic ).

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ioning,heater+valve,6860?a=Ad+Code+msn-ACpart

 

[LukeZ]

its your heater control valve ( shuts off the flow of coolant to the heater core when the AC is turned on ). GM put them on nearly all vehicles in the 80's equipped with AC
They are only $15 or so to replace it with a new one ( plastic ).

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ioning,heater+valve,6860?a=Ad+Code+msn-ACpart

Thanks