[Jay65SS]

Do I need to drain out any coolant from the radiator? Or do I simply unbolt the water neck housing and swap in the new thermostat and gasket?

 

[Chuck]

Get a short bucket and drain about 2 gallons out. That should get the water level below the neck. Use silicon sealer on the gasket. I would reccomend a high flow thermostat rather than the stock one. Big difference in flow.

Chuck

 

[Hi-po SS 454]

I second above info, but no sealer if using an o-ring water thermo. housing..

 

[charbilly2001]

Any part numbers or manufacturers names on that "high flow" stat mentioned?

 

[Hi-po SS 454]

Any part numbers or manufacturers names on that "high flow" stat mentioned?

Mr. Gasket, Milodon.. I use Mr Gasket

 

[surmin69]

Stewart racing componets. the link is below.




http://www.stewartcomponents.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=Therm

 

[A Giordano]

I used a Mr. Gasket water neck....second time I installed it I overtightened, didnt even fire the engine and it leaked like a siv.

I put a thin layer of blue RTV on the o-ring and put it back together and it hasnt leaked a drop since I put it back together last year.

 

[Cameano]

You could soak the gasket in hot water for a few minutes before installing it. It swells it up a bit. Then, after you install it, warm the engine up fully. The gasket might leak a little, they all do, but after it cools down the first time, it'll stop.

 

[SWHEATON]

Also,after you clean/prep the stat hosuing and intake for new stat & gasket refill the coolent through the intake with the rad cap off.

Fill it to just a hair below the stat mounting surface but high enough to contact/cover the bottom of the new stat.

This does a couple things,1 it helps to purge/lessen the amount of air trapped in the block/cooling system then if you just installed the new stat & gasket and then filled from radiator neck.

2nd,doing this ensures the the stat opens at normal temp from the hot coolent conatcing it becasue if you dont fill coolent through intake to touch new stat the motor has to over heat before it transfers enough heat over to the stat to open in up which is not a good thing.

Lastly,you could also drill a 1/4-3/8 inch hole in the flat portion of the stat which also helps to elimnate/purge air from the cooling system.

Mix the coolent 50/50 for best cooling capbility and use distilled water to while mixing to reduce mineral build/corrosion up in system.

Also ad a bottle of antirust/water pump lube while your at it to help protect the cooling system from corrosion too.

scott

 

[Jay65SS]

Thanks for the tips.

 

[Jay65SS]

Just did it. Worked like charm. No leaks. O-ring water neck housing and Mr. Gasket #4364 high flow 180 thermostat. :thumbsup: