Quick question, my thermostat housing has a small leak that I'm getting ready to fix.  If I'm not using the A/C or the heater, should I just replace the gasket and hose? Or should I go ahead and put in a new thermostat also?

|UPDATED|9/8/2015 7:33:20 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Any idea how old the current thermostat is ?? If it seems to be working okay (closed when cold, opens when warm) and it's not too grungy when you pull the t-stat housing, I might leave it alone. If your not sure of it's age and it looks pretty grungy, I'd replace it. Perhaps some the other members will have more input.

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John Sigmund

  DON"T do it twice.  Fix it right the first time. Anti-freeze is messy and you'll lose some in the process. The price of a new one is worth the aggravation of doing it over should the old one fail.

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A thermostat costs under $6. change it.  its like replacing valve stems when buying new tires.

Thanks for the response guys, I appreciate your help.  I'll replace it.

Gents,

Let's hear a collective grooooan for the "chrome thermostat housing....

With or without the gasket, it's gunna leak. The only way to keep a chrome housing from leaking is to grind all of the chrome off the bottom of it, where it sets on the gasket. Then use only a gasket.
Unless you have a brand spankin new intake, with a perfectly flat mounting boss for the housing, the o-ring will do you no good....unless you pull the intake off and have it machined flat, that is. My suggestion is to either get a stock type(painted) housing, or grind the chrome off of the bottom of that chrome housing, and use a regular gasket.

On the new thermostat, you will see a small pin inserted into a small hole on the outer rim of the thermostat. Take some side-cutter pliers(dykes) and cut that pin off, so you have just the small hole open. This will help bleed all of the air out of the cooling system when you get ready to refill it. It also allows a small amount of coolant flow at all times.

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

  Uggh!    "NO"  Shiny stuff where you can't see it or shine it! Confucious say: No sticky, no goodie!

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ok, Thanks Adam.  I'll clean up the old housing and reinstall it.  I appreciate the info, I'm sure it'll save me from having a problem in the long run.

ha ha, got it.  Thanks

Just an fyi...the problem with chrome t-stat housings(or valve covers, timing chain covers, etc.) is the chrome itself....it' just too slick to seal. That's why some of them have the o-ring design.The o-ring style does seem to leak less....but they still leak, in most cases. Sealants, or gaskets just won't seal tight against a slick surface, it just slides right out, which is why it's recommended to grind off the chrome on the sealing surfaces. Same issue with the hoses...they won't tighten down very well on a slick surface, especially if there is any coolant, or other liquid(including sealers) on them. Just not a good idea for a driven car. Show cars can get by with the purdy stuff, but it takes a lot of work to use that stuff without problems on a driver. 

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

interesting.  Thank you for the information.  I understand why now after that explanation.