Probably been covered a thousand times but here are some fresh pictures. Thought I had the new engine sorted out after 500 miles but when I went to check, found another leak around the thermostat housing. In hindsight, it could very well have been just a leaking bypass hose but seemed to be around the whole housing.
Anther thermostat overhaul
- Thread starter steffan
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- Thread starter
- #3
I think I remember some discussion on the orientation of the gasket: over or under the thermostat. This is a '76 2F and with the recess on the bottom housing, the gasket has to go on top.
I put the smallest of skim coat of form-a-gasket on both sides just for good measure. I'll report back to see if it holds
I put the smallest of skim coat of form-a-gasket on both sides just for good measure. I'll report back to see if it holds
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The housings are available new relatively inexpesively if you want to do it right. Looks like yours has corrosion/pitting on the gasket surface whih is why it didn't seal for you with the correct gasket.
I have also found they deform over time and multiple installs.
Check for flatness by hand planing the mating surfaces on a piece of glass with 320 grit sandpaper taped to it, odds are only the ears make contact at first.
Or get new parts
Check for flatness by hand planing the mating surfaces on a piece of glass with 320 grit sandpaper taped to it, odds are only the ears make contact at first.
Or get new parts
- Thread starter
- #6
Good points to be sure! Yes, definitely had some pitting and corrosion on the mating surface as well as around the pipe fittings.
I had epoxied and sanded the pipe fitting and that seemed to work well, giving a durable, smooth finish to seal against.
The housing was very rough when I first received the engine. I thought I had cleaned it up but looking at it now, it could have been better.
This time I went over it with sand paper on a flat metal bar ending up with a green pad. Still not perfect but I didn’t want to take away that much metal to make it perfect.
I’ve put a couple hundred miles on it so far and it seems to be holding.
I haven’t figured this out yet:
Before the leak, the temperature would hang right at 200° (190° factory thermostat) even when I was driving in 115° weather. Since the new gasket, same ambient outdoor temps, it rarely goes over the 190°
I had epoxied and sanded the pipe fitting and that seemed to work well, giving a durable, smooth finish to seal against.
The housing was very rough when I first received the engine. I thought I had cleaned it up but looking at it now, it could have been better.
This time I went over it with sand paper on a flat metal bar ending up with a green pad. Still not perfect but I didn’t want to take away that much metal to make it perfect.
I’ve put a couple hundred miles on it so far and it seems to be holding.
I haven’t figured this out yet:
Before the leak, the temperature would hang right at 200° (190° factory thermostat) even when I was driving in 115° weather. Since the new gasket, same ambient outdoor temps, it rarely goes over the 190°