is this garbage necessary?

Neal you are correct. Without the valve it will be just like every other older mopar with just heat
I didn`t have room for a blower motor, due to raised port heads. I put a hotrod heater up under the dash for defrosters. summit used to have a small 5/8" cable operated brass valve that would shut the coolant flow off. was an automotive looking part, instead of a plumbing part.