Bfg

Is there any difference between thermostat housings from small block to big blocks on 65-70. Mine needs to be replaced due to corrosion. Would prefer original than after market. Thank you.

oddball

Same housing on all later gen (64 and later?) Olds v8's.
The only difference is the bypass tube. Some have a short straight tube - which then requires the formed rubber hose with the curve. Most housings have a bent metal tube so you only need a short section of heater hose to connect to the water pump.
Note that the Dorman and Chrome aftermarket parts are questionable at best and many folks have trouble getting them to seal. Post a parts wanted ad and folks will throw these things at you for a few bucks.

Run to Rund

There are slight differences year to year, and from AC/HD cool to non-AC. Are you looking for NOS? I have them for 1966.

Bfg

Mine is a 65 442 with a/c. Not looking for NOS. just a good one. Is 66 the same for 65? Mine is mainly corroded where the by pass hose attaches.

Run to Rund

yes, according to the 11/71 parts book.

CRUZN 66

According to the April 1969 parts manual a 65-400 w/air uses part number 392099, w/o air is part number 386129... This early style housing was available in both cast steel and aluminum, but I don't know what year the change was made or if it was relative to air versus non-air... In any case 65 & 66 housings should be the same...

Bfg

Ok, thanks for getting back to me! I will check the number on the neck to see what I come up with. I won't be getting to the car until next week.

Bfg

Cruzn 66 Is there a chance you have the part numbers for the a/c and the non a/c thermostat housings mixed up? The part number on my a/c thermostat housing is 386129. I believe the housing I have is original to my motor.

Yellowstatue

My 1974 book agrees with CRUZN. However my Nov. 67 book reads 386129 1965-67/all V-8 W/400 Engine...392099 1965-67/ All V-8 EXC 442 PKG.

Bfg

I would like to see the difference between the two housings!

olds 307 and 403

Will post a pic of an early aluminum housing and a later cast iron housing tomorrow.

droldsmorland

Steer clear of the aftermarket junk...unless you want to replace it again next year. chineasium...nuff said.

CRUZN 66

No, the numbers are correct according to the parts book... But based on the Nov. 67 book mentioned above. maybe that is where a change occurred for cast vs. aluminum... Sometime after that it was reverted back to cast, as may be referenced by the 74 parts catalogs... If anyone has 392099 and it is aluminum, that should verify what I suspect...

Chesrown 67 OAI

the angle of incline is a bit different -- thats all. either one will work fine on a non-tri-carb engine.
Some have a big 1 and some have a big 2 cast in the side. Either will workfine on your 65 car. The ones with the curved tube coming out of them are from later years - not sure which year they started but i know it was after 67? JoeP??

Ozzie

Just to add a bit more chaos to the confusion, here's what the 1966 Olds parts book (effective April 1966) has for group 1.153, Outlet, engine water, for the 8 cylinder engines:

1966-F85 V8, J88 exc. 442............................................... ....392099*

1966-F85 442, D88, Delta, S/F, 98 exc. C.A.C., Spec. Cool.......386129*

1966-F85 442, D88, Delta, S/F, 98 C.A.C., Spec. or H.D. Cool...392099*

1966 Tor. exc. C.A.C............................................. 382543*

1966 Tor. C.A.C............................................. .................393286

*The first four of the listing indicate that they were used on previous years also.

tangokilo

I would like to know why two styles too? I have two motors I pulled from 1970 Lansing built cars. A 70 delta 88 455 iron thermo housing. A 70 455 toronado aluminum housing? 30 years later I wish I had both back. Both were rusted beyond belief. The toronado at 65k was so bad the rear suspension failed...

Run to Rund

the 099 housing has a restrictor in the bypass nipple; the 129 does not. AC and HD cool cars had different pulley ratios and impellers in the water pump, hence the restrictor.

Ozzie

I suppose that's why people who live in areas where they salt the roads and the bridges NEVER drive their "good" vehicles in the winter.