Looking to buy some time as replacement of the leaking heater core is labor intensive and presently beyond my budget.
Other than not having any heat/defrost are there any other issues I should be aware of if I bypass the core at the firewall/cowl and just loop the inbound/outbound lines together?

 

No other issues.
Its better to join / loop them together than block them both off.

 

Ordered bypass kit as noted below. Depending on space limitations, I will either cap off the core lines protruding from the firewall or connect them together w/small section of 3/4 hose.