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Feb 8, 2004 | 10:10 AM

eunice-jean

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From: georgia

390 help

As a teen I did everything on my cars and trucks. It has been 25 years, so excuse my memory.

Can some one give me the steps for a theromostat change. Is there a gasket? I think I can remember using goop to seal form leaking.

OLD AGE

Feb 8, 2004 | 10:18 AM

gtex

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From: Texas

Yes, there is gasket that should be readily available at your local parts store. Used with a little gasket sealer, you should have no problems.

I think there were a couple of different FE thermostat housings. It may just be a difference in the inner diamter where the T-Stat sits. But, take yours with you and look at the gasket for a match.

You can look at one for just about and size and year of the FE engines (360,390,428 among others).

As for the steps: drain the radiator a couple of quarts so the fluid level is below the T-Stat housing. Remove the hose from the housing, and remove the 2 bolts from the housing. It should come off with a slight tap of a mallet. Clean off the old gasket and replace. It shouold be straight forward :-) How many times have I said that to be proven wrong.

Good luck.

Last edited by gtex; Feb 8, 2004 at 10:31 AM.

Feb 8, 2004 | 03:32 PM

bob arrington

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From: alaska

find a mechanic thats not used to home cooking and tell him to gat to work,bob

Feb 8, 2004 | 05:46 PM

pward76

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From: Urbandale, Iowa

The housing has a lip cut in for the t-stat to sit in. Make sure the t-stat does not slip out of this lip when tightening down the housing - it will leak. Then when you tighten the bolts to stop the leak, you will crack the housing and have to get another.

Another tip - do not over tighten the bolts - just snug is good.

Do not ask how I know this....

Feb 8, 2004 | 07:54 PM

Fritolay

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From: in the springs

when ya doit most of the newer t stat gaskets are coming with an adhesive side stick that stat where she goes put the sticky side of the gasket around it to hold her snug then bolt it in dont overtorque it bad news an helicoils aint no fun to put in trust me

Feb 8, 2004 | 08:12 PM

azhuntr

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Just make sure you put the thermostat back in the right way as if you put it in wrong it is not going to work

Feb 9, 2004 | 03:01 PM

bob arrington

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From: alaska

just reread my reply, ive been standing out in the cold to long again, sorry,bob

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Feb 9, 2004 | 06:47 PM

eunice-jean

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From: georgia

Today I learned the rubber band trick. After two failed attempts with a slipping t-stat, a very good shade tree mechanic showed me the trick.

Take a rubber band, the t-stat, a popcicle stick and the housing.
Run the RB through the hose end of the housing, feed the RB through the metal wire on t-stat and back through the housing.

You now have the two ends of the rubber band out the hose end of housing. Take a popcicle stick loop each end of the RB. Now the t-stat is good and tight against the seat in the housing. It can not slip.

Put on the gasket and sealer and bolt up the housing. Now hold ends of RB, take out the popicle sticks. Pull out the RB and you have an installed t-stat.