thermostat housing is killing me!

[billygeg]

I had my themostat housing (I think thats the proper term for it) powder coated. Put it on with a new thermostat and gasket. It leaked. I took it off cleaned it, reinstalled it and it leaked. I have done this about 6 times already and its still leaking! There is a little ring around the bottom of the housing that may be a bit worn which may be causing it to leak. Is there anything else other then that shabby paper thin gasket that I can use to help seal this thing properly? I really dont want to buy a new housing being I just had mine powdercoated unless I could get a chrome one somewhere. If so where?
Thanks guys! :biggrin:
Bill

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

I had the same problem with my thermostat housing. My solution as I recall was putting either permatex or the blue sealer on the paper gasket. It took me several times. Brad

 

[novaderrik]

make sure the flange of the housing isn't warped- it's easy to tighten it too far.
once the flange is straight, wrap some 80 grit sand paper around a 2X4 or sanding block and use that to get all the powdercoating off the mating flange and make sure it is truly flat.
seal it up with some good rtv sealant on the gasket- i personally like "the Right Stuff" that comes in the squeeze cheese looking containers, but any good rtv will work.
drop the thermostat in the intake, smear some sealer on both sides of the gasket and lay it down on the intake, and put the housing on top of that. snug the bolts down and let it sit for a while before topping off the coolant. it should be good for another 25 years.

 

[racemybuick]

I know it is kinda late, but you should have taken a ballpeen hammer and tapped the two bolt holes from the bottom, like on a transmission pan... often, from over-tightening, or from age, the housing forms around the bolt, and this makes the bolt holes "sag" lower than the gasket surface... using a ball peen hammer to tap them back before you got it coated coulda helped a little... just an after thought now i guess... lol... I painted my thermostat housing and clear coated it and it came out nice! Now I gotta pray it doesnt leak!!!




john

 

[tb3]

rough it up with some scotch brite and it'll be fine. if its bent, it can be metal-worked back flat with little effort. if its trashed, i think i've got 4 or 5 of those things in a box somewhere and can send you one

 

[billygeg]

Thanks for you help guys..I got it back on and so far no leak...It is a bit out of shape but put it back on before reading the posts..Like my pop always says, " If its not broke, Dont fix it" So if I holds its staying right where it is until the next thermostat change! Dont want to get into that again! No lie, I had it on and off the car atleat 6 times...

 

[GearheadNY]

The best way is to just pump a little blue silicone on there and let it sit for a tad before you run it. Works every time I need to remove the housing. I must have bent it back a few 7 years ago...