Well my water pump went out two weeks ago, which spurred a modification spree. I tell ya, riffraff's and diesel site's websites are the worst to look at and try to keep your money. Went with a airtex pump and a thermostat from rockauto.com, then bought all new hoses, installed new fan blade to replace the cracked one from my idler pulley giving out. Also ordered the coolant filter kit from diesel site. Then after thinking I could reuse the old thermostat housing with a failed attempt, I ordered the billet housing from diesel site. And of corse while I was nosing around diesel site I saw the hx hose on clearance, so I ordered that up as well. I figured I would get my money's worth for the shipping. . Well that's the most expensive water pump job I have ever done.

Oh, and I can't forget another thank you going out to Wayne for shipping me his old non cracked reservoir for nothing so I can stop having a low coolant level all the time.
I do have to say getting this thermostat housing to seal is a real pain in the butt. Do you guys use the gasket and some sealer or just the gasket? Does anybody know where I could get some factory style clamps for the coolant filter hoses so I could get rid of all the hoses clamps?
Just took a few pics.



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Glad you got it all working Seth!

 

A lot have used a thin bead of RTV for the thermo hsg, but I would be worried about compatibility issues. Aviation form a gasket may work, but I use Right stuff which is in a pressurized can and is a rubber gasket so no compat issues...

 

Those billet filter heads are pretty slick looking. Too bad I already have the old style one.

You can try fuel injection clamps, they are a little better looking IMO. Or you can get 2 ear crimp clamps, they give that factory look too.

2 Ear Crimp Clamp

 

Where do you buy the stuff in the can?

Any where would you get the fuel line fittings?

 

Woodsnthings, you could have your old filter head milled. It wouldn't take much.

 

Wow they are awful proud of them! I have "outlawed" hose clamps at work on air lines and those are all we use. I have bought them by the 100 for a lot less.

 

I guess it depends on where you get them, I know at the local place I get them they are around .22 each depending on the size.

I started using them after seeing them on air hoses, and the fact that they don't hang up as much or cut you like a hose clamp will!

 

Right stuff is made by Permatex and is found at Napa, and most other stores!

 

Well after three failed attempts and a $23 dollar of Right Stuff I finally got the thermostat housing to seal and not leak. So I think I am finally done with everything. Now I am eyeballing the scanner from riffraff for our trucks or the fuel crossover from clay. Don't know which is next.

 

Save on shipping and just get BOTH!

 

X2!!!!

I dunno how I lived without AE. That is also the 'tool' Ive used the most to help others...

 

I know they AE would be sweet. I thought I would be able to sell the wife on it because we are having a problem with her chipped keys in her Expy. On another thread on here I am waiting to find out if you can program keys with the AE. Well I figured the stealership would want a couple hundred to look at her Expy and find out the problem with the keys and reprogram them, so I figured I would call and find out the price so I could justify the cost to the wife. Well my ship was sunk when they said it would only cost me $45 to do what I want done. Soooooo I guess I am on to the next plan to get the AE past the wife.

 

Looks good Seth, now your good for another, say, 100,000 or more with that DS coolant kit.

 

Thanks mike, the system will serve it's purpose well I think. I have had to drain the radiator three times to get the housing to stop leaking and every time I pour the coolant back in I saw all the crap that is in the coolant, plus I like the looks of the system under the hood too.