This again.... 4bbl on a 318 with a 2bbl

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And is there a recommended way to stop my damn upper radiator hose leaking at the thermostat? I'm on the 2bd gasket and it just doesn't want to seal.

I'm debating skipping the gasket and using permatex 22071. Getting a bit stupid now with having to keep draining and refilling this.
 
abcdefghii said:
And is there a recommended way to stop my damn upper radiator hose leaking at the thermostat? I'm on the 2bd gasket and it just doesn't want to seal.

I'm debating skipping the gasket and using permatex 22071. Getting a bit stupid now with having to keep draining and refilling this.
Click to expand...
Yeah. Make sure the housing and intake are straight and flat. The housings are bad about warping, because people over torque the bolts.
 
As far as I can tell the housing is good, it rocks because it's got 2 little nubs next to he bolt holes, but other than that appears to be flat.
 

abcdefghii said:
As far as I can tell the housing is good, it rocks because it's got 2 little nubs next to he bolt holes, but other than that appears to be flat.
Click to expand...
Put it on a flat concrete surface and scrub it back and forth two or three times and look at it. I bet it's not flat.
 
The thing with doing that though, it'll just rub those little nubs. Maybe I should just grind/sand those flat and then I can see how flat the whole thing is without those stupid things which wouldn't surprise me if they're causing the headache anyway.

And just so I'm not crazy, the intake has 4 bolt holes, those don't go all the way through right? As in it's not leaking from the bolt holes (I'm fairly confident it's not, as I can see it seeping between the gasket and housing).
 
Like RRR said, sounds like the housing isn't flat. Does it have pits in the gasket area? If it's flat and real clean then apply a thin layer of gasket sealer on the housing and the intake manifold. You didn't say if it's a chrome thermostat housing, if it is there's your problem as those things are known for leaking.
 
abcdefghii said:
The thing with doing that though, it'll just rub those little nubs. Maybe I should just grind/sand those flat and then I can see how flat the whole thing is without those stupid things which wouldn't surprise me if they're causing the headache anyway.

And just so I'm not crazy, the intake has 4 bolt holes, those don't go all the way through right? As in it's not leaking from the bolt holes (I'm fairly confident it's not, as I can see it seeping between the gasket and housing).
Click to expand...
Ok. Suit yourself. None of mine leak. lol
 
abcdefghii said:
As far as I can tell the housing is good, it rocks because it's got 2 little nubs next to he bolt holes, but other than that appears to be flat.
Click to expand...
The housing shouldn't rock back and forth. Get a piece of 220 grit sandpaper and put it on a known flat surface and rub the housing back and forth until they are gone, remember to keep equal pressure on the housing so it stays flat.
 
Dan the man said:
Like RRR said, sounds like the housing isn't flat. Does it have pits in the gasket area? If it's flat and real clean then apply a thin layer of gasket sealer on the housing and the intake manifold. You didn't say if it's a chrome thermostat housing, if it is there's your problem as those things are known for leaking.
Click to expand...
Not a chrome one, I'll sand the little nubs off and see if it's flat then. A far as I can tell that's the only thing making it not flat.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Ok. Suit yourself. None of mine leak. lol
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RRR, please read post 283. Do you think that would help him out? I've never had a thermostat housing rock back and forth. It sounds like to me that his thermostat housing has some form of a chemical build up on it most likely from a previously small leak.
 
I'll post a picture of the housing before I sand the nubs down, I dunno why they're even there. Not like they help seat it on the manifold.
 
abcdefghii said:
Not a chrome one, I'll sand the little nubs off and see if it's flat then. A far as I can tell that's the only thing making it not flat.
Click to expand...
Put a piece of wet or dry sandpaper on the concrete floor. Spray some penetrating oil on it. Now scrub the housing back and forth on it until it's flat.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Put a piece of wet or dry sandpaper on the concrete floor. Spray some penetrating oil on it. Now scrub the housing back and forth on it until it's flat.
Click to expand...
On cast iron housings, I have clamped my belt sander upside down in the vice. That works pretty good as well. I had a customer that had a surfacer (like a big wide belt sander) It was great for t stat housings and exhaust manifolds. Not for cylinder heads though. They had a mill for that.
 
65 Cuda 340 said:
Nubs? Never seen any on the base of a thermostat housing. ???
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Today's your lucky day then, not sure how well they show up, I lightly sanded them.

20260222_154259.jpg
20260222_154245.jpg


Now to sand them entirely flat.
 
abcdefghii said:
I'll post a picture of the housing before I sand the nubs down, I dunno why they're even there. Not like they help seat it on the manifold.
Click to expand...
Is this the thermostat housing that your using:
abcdefghii said:
Today's your lucky day then, not sure how well they show up, I lightly sanded them.

View attachment 1716513118View attachment 1716513119

Now to sand them entirely flat.
Click to expand...
That's a late model thermostat housing. I have only experienced them on mid 80's 4bbl equipped D/W series trucks.

There are far better options available.
 
abcdefghii said:
Today's your lucky day then, not sure how well they show up, I lightly sanded them.

View attachment 1716513118View attachment 1716513119

Now to sand them entirely flat.
Click to expand...
That's the crappiest housing available. Stamped sheet metal. Flimsy as heck. I'd at least get a new cast one. But if you do, check it for flatness, too. If the bolts have lock washers, those "nubs" are where the lock washers bent the housing in from being over torqued. I've seen them split from that.
 
Illahe said:
That's a late model thermostat housing. I have only experienced them on mid 80's 4bbl equipped D/W series trucks.
Click to expand...
Good to know, mines an 81 D series.

I sanded it flat, reinstalled with a new gasket and a little rtv. Fingers crossed. If it still leaks I'll pick up the correct housing.
 
340six said:
Is that what you have on your car Dan?
Click to expand...
No sir I don't, but if I did that's probably what I'd have on it. Actually I'm simply repeating some of the suggestions that have been made on here several times in the past. Is it okay to mention things that I've read on here? From what I've learned from you and others on here I believe if I did have a car that I could make it a fun car to drive. Thanks everyone
 
abcdefghii said:
Good to know, mines an 81 D series.

I sanded it flat, reinstalled with a new gasket and a little rtv. Fingers crossed. If it still leaks I'll pick up the correct housing.
Click to expand...
Well, it is "correct" for your application. It's just crappy. lol
 
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