'87 GN thermostat troubles

[jastrckl]

Like a complete friggin idiot, I went to autozone to get a 160 thermostat. Of course, they gave me the wrong NA part instead of the thermostat that the turbos use. Wrong gasket of course too. Before I realized this, I got the whole mess apart, and then realized "wow, those guys are idiots. these are the COMPLETELY WRONG PARTS". "oh wait, I'm an idiot too. dammit". Anyway, I thought I might be able to pull that SBC 350 v8 thermostat trick and just get the one I had to fit, or at least drill the 190 one in there now. So I get a universal joint 3/8" drive and a 1/2" socket, and take off that y clamp holding the thermostat housing on, yank off some hoses, leak coolant everywhere, and have the thermostat housing exposed right there for me. I try pulling on that thing in every way known to man, and it won't come off. Apparently they're supposed to be aluminum, but mine is most definitely some kind of steel, is painted black, and starting to rust a little so it's seized in there purdy good. I tried the usual tricks w/ wd40 and whatnot, any other ideas? Mainly I just wanted to grip about how much of a dissapointment it was to SEE the thermostat, but not be able to do a -darn- thing, and have the wrong part anyway. Hope you guys have better luck than I've had recently.

 

[Nick Micale]

The original housing neck is stamped steel. Since you will trash it coming out, a cast replacement is available at most parts stores.

 

[Ormand]

Trim a thermostat

If you have to buy a housing, you'll probably get a smaller thermostat, too. But just in case, you might want to know that it's possible to use tin snips, and carefully shear the larger thermostat down so that it will fit in the turbo engine t-stat housing. I have bought at least one from one of the "respected" vendors that was made like that.

 

[jastrckl]

I already got the wrong thermostat from the auto parts store, I sincerely doubt that they could get me the right housing. who has a replacement housing? and I'm having trouble getting the thing out even if I DO trash it. sigh. Maybe I'll take it somewhere to let a bona fide grease monkey deal with it.

 

[scottyb]

Ask the parts store for a 160 tstat for a 1989 Turbo Trans Am. NAPA had that part in stock and the water outlet neck. Funny how they didn't stock that SAME FRIGGIN' part for a Buick!.

 

[UNGN]

Here's the whole run down from NAPA:

'87 Buick Regal 3.8L Thermstats - page 1


'87 Buick Regal 3.8L Thermstats - page 2

 

[Black Car]

jastrckl
Put the upper hose back on the theromstat neck and tighten up the hose clamp. Then you can pull on the rubber hose, up and down to help break it loose and then pull straight out to remove the housing. It should only be held in by rust and the o-ring. Unless someone rtv it in place.

Gary

 

[dpok69]

I used a beefy channel lock and twisted the housing off without crushing it.

You can get the billet neck and a thermostat from postens, like i did.

 

[jastrckl]

I can't find any information on postens. I found the correct thermostat @ kirbans, but they don't have the housing. A little help?

 

[U1ARUNIT]

Most any good TR vendor or parts store has the housings in stock. Are you near Conleys in Houston TX?

 

[jastrckl]

I'm 3 hours away from houston, in south San Antonio. My dad is in Houston though, maybe I can have him pick some junk up for me. Do you know of anything in the San An area?

 

[UNGN]

Napa says they have the 160 degree thermostat, THM 530060 for $6.99, the O ring seal THM 1077 for $.99 and the water Outlet BK
6051244 for $14.49. It's worth a shot if ones close.

 

[dpok69]

Posten's phone # 1-800-635-9781

Dude, the housing and the thermostat are on page 35 at the bottom in their fall 2001 catalog.

Housing: $22.50
Thermostat: $11.89

The housing is billet and pretty high quality. It comes with the oring. Remember to put vaseline(i put wd-40 ) to ease and prevent damge to the o-ring during reinstallation.If you can find the thermostat cheaper at Napa, go for it. In my opinion, the thermostat could be had for cheaper.

 

[BLACK MAGIC RACING]

You can't find POSTENS because it's spelled P-O-S-T-O-N-S If you give 'em a call, they'll send you a free catalog with all kinds of good stuff in it. I locked a vise-grip on my housing to work it up and down, then a few good tugs ( and a few bloody knuckles ) later it was off. The billet housing from Poston's is a great piece. Good price, too.

 

[TClassic]

I'll bet my LAST dollar that the Thero ALREADY in there is a 160!! No one would switch out the neck and NOT put in a 160!!!

 

[jastrckl]

is that housing really different from stock? I see no reason why someone would replace the housing with a steel one that they knew would freeze into the intake. Supposedly aluminum is stock, but the one I have is most definitely steel.

 

[scottyb]

Don't know about the one from Postons, but the one I got at NAPA is MUCH better. Not stamped steel like the stocker.

 

[terryk]

To add fuel to the fire....

When I went to NAPA, the stat they listed for the TR was for the NA 3.8L. They didn't list a 160 for the TTA. I did get the housing for the TTA (and they didn't have a listing for the TR) and it was a very nice part. It seems to be ever so slightly taller at the collar so I added a washer under the clamp.

I believe the 530060? number is the 160 NA stat, not a TR. It's larger. I put a 180 in......

 

[d0n_3d]

i got my 160 thermostat from kirbans...i had the stock thermostat and housing in my car when i changed it out and the housing popped right out for me...so easy that i still use that same housing for the new thermo and no problems whatsoever...

 

[gnpete]

Can someone confirm the NAPA part # for the 160degree stat that'll fit.

There was a post stating it is THM530060 put another stated it was for the NA 3.8L.

Could someone clarify.