Chrome Thermostat housing SBC - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

solidaxel · 11-16-2014, 04:47 PM

I was sorting through a few items yesterday and this one made my day!!
Replacing fuel lines and cleaned the carb and then on to the cooling system!

Donaldo · 11-16-2014, 06:51 PM

""I was sorting through a few items yesterday and this one made my day!!""

OK, just gotta ask - what 'for coolant' was in your radiator ?

**Dan in Pasadena** · 11-16-2014, 06:56 PM

Apparently, battery acid....or something close! Yikes!

solidaxel · 11-16-2014, 07:05 PM

The radiator and engine were dry.............................for a long time !

**mr48chev** · 11-16-2014, 07:35 PM

Those diecast chrome housings are known to corrode but that is a lot of corrosion.

Is the mess in the intake just in a pile below the thermostat housing or is it spread down the water passages?

It actually looks like the hard water deposits in the water heater in the trailer house I used to live in 35 years ago. I'd dig about fifteen lbs of that stuff out of the bottom of the water heater every other year.

Donaldo · 11-17-2014, 11:57 AM

"" looks like the hard water deposits""

Yeah, in combination with electrolysis from the dissimilar metals in the engine components/water jacket.

Consider using a brass plug with a zinc anode in every available hole in the intake manifold and engine block, thermostat housing. It's better to use a sacrificial anode than have the engine or radiator eaten up like that.

**mr48chev** · 11-17-2014, 12:12 PM

SO AZ ummm, running it with just tap water and no antifreeze or cooling system conditioner?

First I'd clean the inside of the chrome housing out and see how much of it is eaten out though as I've had hell with those deteriorating on the inside in the past.

Donldo's theory about electrolysis eating up the metal is one to seriously consider though.

solidaxel · 11-18-2014, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Those diecast chrome housings are known to corrode but that is a lot of corrosion.

Is the mess in the intake just in a pile below the thermostat housing or is it spread down the water passages?

It actually looks like the hard water deposits in the water heater in the trailer house I used to live in 35 years ago. I'd dig about fifteen lbs of that stuff out of the bottom of the water heater every other year.

I replaced the Tstat and a new housing, vacuumed the intake and it looks good on to the rad

11-16-2014, 04:47 PM	#1
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Chrome Thermostat housing SBC I was sorting through a few items yesterday and this one made my day!! Replacing fuel lines and cleaned the carb and then on to the cooling system! Attached Images __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

11-16-2014, 06:51 PM	#2
Donaldo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Morro Bay, California Posts: 447	Re: Chrome Thermostat housing SBC ""I was sorting through a few items yesterday and this one made my day!!"" OK, just gotta ask - what 'for coolant' was in your radiator ? __________________ Thanks, Don http://www.donsbirds.com/pick-up

11-16-2014, 06:56 PM	#3
Dan in Pasadena Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora, CA Posts: 6,346	Re: Chrome Thermostat housing SBC Apparently, battery acid....or something close! Yikes! __________________ '55 Big Window Shortbed, Drive-It-&-Work-On-It slid down the "slippery slope" to a Frame-Off Rodstoration! LQ4/4l85e/C4 IFS/Mustang 8.8 rearend w/3.73's Dan's '55 Big Window "Build" - Well, Kinda!

11-16-2014, 07:05 PM	#4
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Re: Chrome Thermostat housing SBC The radiator and engine were dry.............................for a long time ! __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

11-16-2014, 07:35 PM	#5
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,741	Re: Chrome Thermostat housing SBC Those diecast chrome housings are known to corrode but that is a lot of corrosion. Is the mess in the intake just in a pile below the thermostat housing or is it spread down the water passages? It actually looks like the hard water deposits in the water heater in the trailer house I used to live in 35 years ago. I'd dig about fifteen lbs of that stuff out of the bottom of the water heater every other year. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

11-17-2014, 11:57 AM	#6
Donaldo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Morro Bay, California Posts: 447	Re: Chrome Thermostat housing SBC "" looks like the hard water deposits"" Yeah, in combination with electrolysis from the dissimilar metals in the engine components/water jacket. Consider using a brass plug with a zinc anode in every available hole in the intake manifold and engine block, thermostat housing. It's better to use a sacrificial anode than have the engine or radiator eaten up like that. __________________ Thanks, Don http://www.donsbirds.com/pick-up

11-17-2014, 12:12 PM	#7
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,741	Re: Chrome Thermostat housing SBC SO AZ ummm, running it with just tap water and no antifreeze or cooling system conditioner? First I'd clean the inside of the chrome housing out and see how much of it is eaten out though as I've had hell with those deteriorating on the inside in the past. Donldo's theory about electrolysis eating up the metal is one to seriously consider though. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.



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