thermostat housing

[delawarebill]

housing had leak, pulled and replaced gasket and hose last week. didn't start engine and ck'd yesterday and still a small leak. so i'm getting a new housing.. but i see O'ring and gasket type... which do u prefer ?? the one on now is o'ring but i added a gasket...no luck.. was thinking of a slightly thicker gasket.. thoughts on that to.

 

[Hemikiller]

I'm still using the factory Ford water outlet on mine. Straightened it out, surfaced it true on a piece of 80 grit paper and used a standard FelPro gasket. Motorad, Dorman and Four Seasons all offer what appears to be the same cast iron outlet that seems pretty beefy.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=10711716&cc=1132995&pt=10337&jsn=1677

 

[RIBS]

I have an Edelbrock intake, and it seems the outlet is maybe 1/4 inch lower. This caused me thermostat problems…I ended up getting one that uses the flat gasket and angles up at a 45 degree angle. Even then it was so close the the water pump assembly I could not get a hose and hose clamp on. So I ground the wall of the tube thinner with a belt sander. Also used thermostat/water pump sealer in a tube to enhance the paper gasket seal…

 

[delawarebill]

keep forgetting about rock auto.. new housing will be here this week... thanks all. again!!!

 

[clevelandcoupe]

Good choice from Rock Auto. I ran the chrome ones with the O ring gasket for years on my Model A and probably had to replace them every few years. I recently replaced the chrome with a stock style polished aluminum with a gasket.
Thanks, Jay

 

[mrgmhale]

The replacement housing is a good place to start. Our 73 Mustang Convertible has a 302 2v in it, and I had to replace the water pump the other year (coolant leak from water pump impeller shaft, of course). But, the thermostat housing cover and pump impeller outlet shaft seal has a lot of moisture,and the outlet housing had some surface had a lot of crusty, white corrosion on it. I initially tried to smooth out the corrosion by sanding it off. What a PITA that turned out to be, even if briefly. No sooner than I started to sand off the hard buildup I decided it was well worth getting a new housing, and pulling the original cover.

No O-Ring was offered the the unit I received, just a standard gasket. I picked up some silicone adhesive let, and Joe (son) watch. Then I applied a thin coat of Permatex Silicone adhesive to one side of the housing gasket and pressed into position on the new thermostat housing on the gasket side only. In a few hours I confirmed the one gasket I just replaced was looking really good, where the silicone I had applied to the one gasket side was slight cured on the skin of the silicone surface. I then applied the Permatex Silicone to the other side of the thermostat gasket, and installed the replacement water pump.. Then I dropped in the new water pump, while Lynda recorded the process:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98nUsQGeJUk

Anyway, whether recommended or not, Permatex silicone is fine this kind of repair. No reason except so rarely need it..

 

[delawarebill]

i'll be using the high temp RTV on both sides. just enough to coat.

 

[delawarebill]

pulled the housing and WOW... u could drive a car under the ark. replaced with the motorad and all is good now. damn i pulled it twice and never looked at housing to see if flat.. lesson learned . changed oil/filter and fogged engine and now it's beddy bye time till spring.