Thermostat Housing - Using Studs
#1
Thermostat Housing - Using Studs
My cheap thermostat failed after 9 months, fortunately stuck in the open position. I heard a recommendation from a fellow board member about replacing the bolts with studs, and I thought I would give it a try. Very happy with the results. No more leaking
#4
Your housing was leaking too?
This is probably a dumb question, but how do studs, as opposed to bolts make any difference? Assuming the bolts you took out were old, wouldn't new, quality bolts do the same?
I just try and shy away from studs, they've always been a hassle for me.
This is probably a dumb question, but how do studs, as opposed to bolts make any difference? Assuming the bolts you took out were old, wouldn't new, quality bolts do the same?
I just try and shy away from studs, they've always been a hassle for me.
#6
For those that aren't familiar, the bolts thread into the water passage, so water can leak past the threads and cause a slow dribble that pools on your intake manifold, even with generous amounts of rtv.
I used red thread sealer on the studs that enter the water passage to prevent any leaks via the threads.
I'll switch to stainless studs during the next thermostat swap.
I used red thread sealer on the studs that enter the water passage to prevent any leaks via the threads.
I'll switch to stainless studs during the next thermostat swap.
#7
New bolts would definitely help, but my manifold is 47 years old, and the female threads in the manifold are worn. I could retap and use a larger bolt, but using studs and thread sealer are much easier, at least for now.
#8
I like red loctite on stainless studs. Then you only deal with the stainless nuts to remove the housing and never disturb the threads in the manifold. If the threads in the manifold are bad, install a heli-coil and stainless studs with red loctite. If you drill the manifold to a larger size you have to drill the thermo housing and the larger bolt head may not clear.
Studs, IMHO, are easy to deal with if stainless is used. Even if the nut strips or rounds, you split the nut and reuse the stud.
Studs, IMHO, are easy to deal with if stainless is used. Even if the nut strips or rounds, you split the nut and reuse the stud.
#11
I had leaks with my thermostat housing so I ran the outlet housing over a belt sander a few times to get it perfectly flat , put it back on with a metal reinforced gasket and , voila ! no more leaks .
#12
Where'd you get your gaskets?
#14
#16
Flatness is important for sure. I had seepage issues till I used double gaskets and RTV. Even my Robmc water neck seeped till I used 2 gaskets and sealant on the threads.
#17
#18
Bolt vs. Stud
Regarding the earlier comment about bolts being better, I must be missing something: studs and bolts have identical threads, so it's not making sense that bolts are better. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but they should perform identically with regards to jacket sealing?
Maybe mopar studs are made with inferior material (haha). Seriously, stainless bolts would do better than non-stainless studs, but I think there's something missing in the mopar story.
One benefit of studs over bolts, when you re-tighten bolts, you break the loctite seal. With studs, you tighten the nut and the loctite stays intact.
For those that have good threads in the manifold, this conversation probably sounds silly, a good gasket seal should work, but for older manifolds, the threads can corrode a little, making the bolt engagement imperfect, causing a little seepage.
Maybe mopar studs are made with inferior material (haha). Seriously, stainless bolts would do better than non-stainless studs, but I think there's something missing in the mopar story.
One benefit of studs over bolts, when you re-tighten bolts, you break the loctite seal. With studs, you tighten the nut and the loctite stays intact.
For those that have good threads in the manifold, this conversation probably sounds silly, a good gasket seal should work, but for older manifolds, the threads can corrode a little, making the bolt engagement imperfect, causing a little seepage.
#19
(Sorry for the Mopar story)
#20
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