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Topic: Anti Freeze

in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems


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Anti Freeze (1/21)
 8/10/08 11:16pm
KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA

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White '79 Corvette. It's a driver.


Joined: 8/27/2007
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About two weeks ago I noticed a small puddle of anti freeze on my intake manifold just behind the thermostat housing.
I snugged down the two bolts on the thermostat housing and tightened the upper hose clamp just a turn. It seemed like the problem was solved.
 
My Vette sat unstarted for a week while I was away on vacation. Today I started it and let it run for 10 minutes. Then I noticed the antifreeze puddle behind the thermostat housing and also along the inboard side of the passenger side valve cover.
 
Any ideas for an amateur like me?
 
 
KDADDY792008-08-10 20:17:45
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Anti Freeze (2/21)
 8/11/08 12:29am
mkapp7879
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Both my white79 and 78SA had that leak. Both got new upper heater hoses. Seemed the rubber was crushed by the clamp over the years and tightening just didn't help any more.
Anti Freeze (3/21)
 8/11/08 8:06am
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Mike's right on target...check the heater hose on the intake, pass side front. They can collapse at the clamp, and have a little spray when running, as well as seepage while sitting.

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Anti Freeze (4/21)
 8/11/08 10:40am
KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA

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Thanks for the input!
I just gave it another look and that makes perfect sense. I'm thinkin' this is something I'll do myself right here in my driveway.
Anti Freeze (5/21)
 8/18/08 8:37pm
KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA

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You guys were right on the $$$!!!
Me and my Craftsman DIYer tools got this job all finished up today.
I even put in a valve on each heater hose to cut down on scorching my feets on those hot days.Big%20smile
Thanks for your input!
Kevin
Anti Freeze (6/21)
 9/8/08 8:44pm
KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA

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White '79 Corvette. It's a driver.


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Well, the antifreeze leak has returned.
 
I removed the thermostat housing. (It's a chrome one with a round robber gasket on the bottom.) I pulled off the rubber gasket and used a Fel Pro gasket with some sealer on both sides of it. I reinstalled the thermostat housing and kept an eye on it while the motor warmed up. No leaks.
However, after driving the car home I let it sit in the driveway with the hood open to cool down. After about an hour of coolong the darn intifreeze is leaking from between the thermostat housing and the intake manifold.
 
Any suggestions?
Anti Freeze (7/21)
 9/8/08 8:55pm
corvette440hpLifetime Member
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The round rubber gasket........is it an "O" ring?

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Anti Freeze (8/21)
 9/8/08 9:01pm
KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA

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An "O" Ring sounds like a good description. It's about the size of the outer edge of a silver dollar.

I removed it and hoped that the standard gasket would work better.
NOT!
Anti Freeze (9/21)
 9/8/08 9:19pm
corvette440hpLifetime Member
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The swivel necks usually have an "O" ring. You really need to get the proper "O" ring, put a little Vasolene on it to lubricate it, and put everything back together. Boy you're having all kinds of fun lately. The joys of owning a C3!

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Anti Freeze (10/21)
 9/8/08 9:30pm
KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA

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The joys of owning a C3!
Today, while all dirty and sweaty, I had the thought, "It still beats workin'." Big%20smile
 
Can I buy a new "O" Ring at just about any auto parts  store? Or should I just replace the whole Thermo. Housing that does not swivel?
 
P.S. The intake manifold is an Edelbrock, if that's any help.
Anti Freeze (11/21)
 9/9/08 8:35am
corvette440hpLifetime Member
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Kevin, any auto parts store should have the proper "O" ring. You do need to Vasolene it to keep it from binding when you swivel the neck housing. You can also get it from Summit, but it would cost more bucks. Here is Summit's gaskets for their swivel water neck:         http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM%2D370002&

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Anti Freeze (12/21)
 9/9/08 8:37am
corvette440hpLifetime Member
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Kevin, here are the size dimensions for their "O" ring gasket: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=SUM%2D370002&view=32&N=700

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Anti Freeze (13/21)
 9/9/08 9:42am
71Shark
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Edmond, OK - USA

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DNV, Fireboss and I have all been through the chrome t-stat housing dilema and mine is the only one that has not leaked.  There are 4 or 5 of them in my "junk" parts box in my shop.  Don't know what it is.  It seems as though they should work.  We ended up changing both of thiers back to cast.
Anti Freeze (14/21)
 9/9/08 4:01pm
KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA

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I'm thinking I'll give 440's "O" Ring suggestion a shot.
If it don't work, I'll put the stock one back on and let that be that.
Thanks fellas!
Anti Freeze (15/21)
 9/9/08 7:34pm
corvette440hpLifetime Member
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[QUOTE=KDADDY79]I'm thinking I'll give 440's "O" Ring suggestion a shot.
If it don't work, I'll put the stock one back on and let that be that.
Thanks fellas!
[/QUOTE] Really Kevin go for itThumbs%20Up

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Anti Freeze (16/21)
 9/29/08 10:16pm
KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA

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Hey Larry (corvette440hp),
I finally had the time & weather on my side to do this little fix.
I got rid of the swivel thermo. housing and went with a chrome one that is solid.
I removed the O Ring from the groove in the housing. I put the Vaseline on both sides of it and put it back in the groove. Then I installed it.
 
I let it get hot and then cool down for about 2 hours. No leaks.
I drove it for about 20 minutes after dinner and saw no leaks after that short ride.
 
So far so good. Thanks for the advice!
Kevin
KDADDY792008-09-29 19:51:14
Anti Freeze (17/21)
 9/29/08 11:15pm
warbird
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Kevin,
I had the same exact problem last week. Chrome thermo housing and "O" ring too ! The leak was driving me nuts. Wits%20End
I got a new chrome one w/the "O" ring, changed the stat, 2 hoses, and drained and flushed the rad. Thumbs%20Up
One thing I found, I had a 195 stat in the housing. Changed that into the 180 and everything is OK. Big%20smile
Anti Freeze (18/21)
 9/29/08 11:23pm
corvette440hpLifetime Member
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KevinThumbs%20Up

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Anti Freeze (19/21)
 9/29/08 11:28pm
DaveMLifetime Member
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Flanders, NJ - USA

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1982 Black, ZZ4, Hooker Side Pipes, 3.55 Rear, Rebuilt & upgraded 700R4, All new suspension, brakes, & new Charcoal interior.


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Make sure that any pipe plugs that are in the manifold up front are good & tight, make sure there are no signs of leaking.
Dave


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Anti Freeze (20/21)
 9/30/08 12:08am
KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA

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Joined: 8/27/2007
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Hey DaveM,
I'll give that a look see tomorrow morning.
What I'm hoping for is a dry manifold after it cooled down all night.
It's lookin' good so far!
Gotta get a few minor things right so I can catch the tail end of the season.Smile 
Anti Freeze (21/21)
 9/30/08 7:48am
DaveMLifetime Member
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Flanders, NJ - USA

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1982 Black, ZZ4, Hooker Side Pipes, 3.55 Rear, Rebuilt & upgraded 700R4, All new suspension, brakes, & new Charcoal interior.


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Thanks for the call on our way up to the Finger Lakes. Too bad you could not make it, we had a blast, you would have loved the run on the race track. Take care,
Dave


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