BEWARE of chrome Thermostate housings - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Bill72BB · 07-22-2002, 08:40 PM

Here are some picturs of a year old chrome thermostate housing it sprung a pin hole leak on Saturday and when I took it off the neck that the hose was clamped too was so thin my thumb made a hole in it .
Don't know what caused it ?

Bill

Bill72BB · 07-22-2002, 08:41 PM

Another shot of the neck.

Bill72BB · 07-22-2002, 08:42 PM

And the inside

Longhorn Man · 07-22-2002, 08:45 PM

Wow..huge bummer, they will also cause corrosion on the alluminum intake. THe anti-freeze turns to battery acid frim the dis-simalar metals.
Chainge your coolant EVEY year.

Bill72BB · 07-22-2002, 10:01 PM

Andy; What blew me away I've changed the coolant several time when I was experimenting with different Degree Thermostats.

I went back to a stock housing ,not taking any chances.

Bill

Longhorn Man · 07-22-2002, 10:08 PM

I've heard of this hapening, and I have no idea what did it if you have flushed your system.
I know I check mine every 6 months or so when i chainge from coolant to water or vise-versa.
So far, so good.

BubbaGreen · 07-22-2002, 10:32 PM

Anti-freeze for the most part will turn acidic over time, if your using the green stuff, change it every year. As far as the
chrome pieces go, most makers sacrafic quality for the shiny
look...knowing it will fail...thermostat housings, chrome pulleys...
etc, all fall into this catagory. What ever you decide to use, try
to select a metal that is the same as the intake, ie, if you run
an aluminum intake, get an aluminum t-stat housing. If you
have a stock cast iron, go scoutin the junk yards for an iron
t-stat housing, (most of them if even remotely protected from the
weather will still be usable) Good LUck.

*racedvl* · 07-22-2002, 11:08 PM

I say beware of any chrome!! I am ainti chrome! I guess a air cleaner is ok, but that's about it.

Super Chevy · 07-22-2002, 11:12 PM

Sucks to hear about that, i have one now and it seems to be ok,its the kind with the o-ring ,no gasket. PS nice camera

Bill72BB · 07-23-2002, 01:02 AM

Super chevy ; sounds like the same one I had .

Bill

junkyardjohn · 07-23-2002, 01:08 AM

IF YOUR WATER IS THE LEAST BIT ACIDIC OR HAS A HIGH MINERAL OR SULFER COUNT, ALWAYS USE DISTILLED WATER TO MIX WITH ANTI-FREEZE FOR YOUR COOLING SYSTEM. IT'S CHEAP & MAKES THAT GREEN STUFF (ANTI-FREEZE) LAST ALOT LONGER. IF YOU HAVE A DEHUMIDIFIRE IN YOUR HOUSE, ALL THE WATER THAT COMES OUT OF IT IS DISTILLED (OSMOSES??)

frost89434 · 07-23-2002, 01:10 AM

I bought one of those once and when I went to put it on the bolt holes were off by about a half an inch

TheMattMan · 07-23-2002, 01:14 AM

I dont even think the air cleaner should be chrome.......go adhead and spend the extra few bucks and get aluminum......Everything should be aluminum or stainless. Unless you are just building a old beater.........My bolts are even polished stainless with logo engravings.

Hooter · 07-23-2002, 01:23 AM

i had one of those chrome therm housings. damn thing corroded on me too. not maiking that mistake twice

Sinister · 07-23-2002, 01:33 AM

that's bizarre...
i've been running a chrome one for a couple years with no problem, i'm using that orange long life prestone...

**68SWB4x4** · 07-23-2002, 02:15 AM

ive heard of this happening to a bunch of diffrent people who run chrome thermo housings......... this looks like a good topic for the review board...... so im moving it there

Bamm · 07-23-2002, 08:12 AM

Go Billet.............JB

Longhorn Man · 07-23-2002, 06:34 PM

Well, my chrome one (with O-ring) has been in use since '98 when i bought the first Longhorn...no tellin how long it was on that truck before I got it. So far so good, and I really like the O-ring too.
On the one that the holes did not line up on, it was probably a pontiac one, thy look the same, but the holes don't quite match up. Pontiac and caddy have the same hole spacing too just in case any one was losing sleep with that question.

1971LT1SWBPOSI373 · 08-13-2002, 10:10 PM

Same thing happened to me. Except my pin hole was located on the round part directly above the thermostat. I threw it out and bought a cast iron one from NAPA. Those things are junk, not worth risking your engine over.

Custom 68 · 08-14-2002, 10:55 AM

I have had one with a temp sender hole on top for oh 10 years or so and no problems. Used to be my daily driver not as much now. Just pulled the engine and took that off still looks good?

**COBALT** · 09-03-2002, 05:41 PM

The chrome ones corrode, and the pot metal stock ones warp.

I finally went to Napa and got a cast iron one. Haven't had problems since, but the key is a good gasket and flat clean surfaces. Fel-Pro #35562T. It's a reusable gasket, and you don't use tack or gasket sealer to put it in. Just shove it in and tighen it down. Done.

Nathan · 09-10-2002, 01:17 PM

If you can buy the part at O'Rielly's or Autozone in the "Dress Up" area, don't buy it. (Hell if it is from Autozone, don't buy it no matter what it is.) I've had problems with them not leaking, but when I go to flush the system and I change the hose, the damn neck on it will break off. I went back to the cast iron one.

SoCal71K20 · 09-12-2002, 12:09 AM

Count me in too.I used one before and it was crap.I think more
than type of coolant, is country of orgin of those damn chrome
pieces.I went to Napa to get a cast one with the little carb return
spring hole cast into it.Guess where it come from? Yeah,china too.
But yeah keep your green coolant fresh.I have heard too many
negative stories about the orange GM death-cool on a 90's
Suburban forum.I also flushed that stuff out and replaced it
with green coolant on my 98 Suburban.

Crank · 10-03-2002, 10:31 PM

What does it do to the aluminum intakes? Are the only thermo housings that corrode are made of Steel, metal, what? Yeah, what about billet specialties billet ones? Would they corrode? Are there any complaints about these? Nice bolts too, Themattman, where did you get hooked up with those, i've seen em before, did you get a whole set for your motor?
Brandon

GMC JUNKIE TOO · 10-20-2002, 12:33 AM

I had a problem with chromed heater hose fittings the only ones i could find were chrome cost 11.99!!! got them home and one was steel and one not a few months it split all down one side found one for 2.99 and it works great.

07-22-2002, 08:40 PM	#1
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,979	BEWARE of chrome Thermostate housings Here are some picturs of a year old chrome thermostate housing it sprung a pin hole leak on Saturday and when I took it off the neck that the hose was clamped too was so thin my thumb made a hole in it . Don't know what caused it ? Bill Attached Images __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen ,

07-22-2002, 08:41 PM	#2
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,979	Another shot of the neck. Attached Images __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen ,

07-22-2002, 10:01 PM	#5
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,979	Andy; What blew me away I've changed the coolant several time when I was experimenting with different Degree Thermostats. I went back to a stock housing ,not taking any chances. Bill __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen ,

07-22-2002, 10:32 PM	#7
BubbaGreen Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Cedar Park, TX Posts: 686	Anti-freeze for the most part will turn acidic over time, if your using the green stuff, change it every year. As far as the chrome pieces go, most makers sacrafic quality for the shiny look...knowing it will fail...thermostat housings, chrome pulleys... etc, all fall into this catagory. What ever you decide to use, try to select a metal that is the same as the intake, ie, if you run an aluminum intake, get an aluminum t-stat housing. If you have a stock cast iron, go scoutin the junk yards for an iron t-stat housing, (most of them if even remotely protected from the weather will still be usable) Good LUck. __________________ 71 Chevy C-10 SWB Fleetside RamJet-350/4L60e & Compushift/3.73Posi See it at www.prismnet.com/~grzanich

07-23-2002, 01:02 AM	#10
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,979	Super chevy ; sounds like the same one I had . Bill __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen ,

07-22-2002, 08:42 PM	#3
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,979	And the inside Attached Images __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen ,

07-22-2002, 08:45 PM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Wow..huge bummer, they will also cause corrosion on the alluminum intake. THe anti-freeze turns to battery acid frim the dis-simalar metals. Chainge your coolant EVEY year.

07-22-2002, 10:08 PM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	I've heard of this hapening, and I have no idea what did it if you have flushed your system. I know I check mine every 6 months or so when i chainge from coolant to water or vise-versa. So far, so good.

07-22-2002, 11:08 PM	#8
racedvl Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 7,020	I say beware of any chrome!! I am ainti chrome! I guess a air cleaner is ok, but that's about it.

07-22-2002, 11:12 PM	#9
Super Chevy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,025	Sucks to hear about that, i have one now and it seems to be ok,its the kind with the o-ring ,no gasket. PS nice camera

07-23-2002, 01:08 AM	#11
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,425	IF YOUR WATER IS THE LEAST BIT ACIDIC OR HAS A HIGH MINERAL OR SULFER COUNT, ALWAYS USE DISTILLED WATER TO MIX WITH ANTI-FREEZE FOR YOUR COOLING SYSTEM. IT'S CHEAP & MAKES THAT GREEN STUFF (ANTI-FREEZE) LAST ALOT LONGER. IF YOU HAVE A DEHUMIDIFIRE IN YOUR HOUSE, ALL THE WATER THAT COMES OUT OF IT IS DISTILLED (OSMOSES??) __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST

07-23-2002, 01:10 AM	#12
frost89434 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: sparks, NV Posts: 1,141	I bought one of those once and when I went to put it on the bolt holes were off by about a half an inch __________________ 68 short fleet with 71 front clip 2wd jaguar blue 99 chevy ext cab shrtbed z71 loaded 99 chevy swb fleetside(daily driver) Sparks, Nevada

07-23-2002, 01:14 AM	#13
TheMattMan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lumberton, TX , USA Posts: 71	I guess a air cleaner is ok, but that's about it. I dont even think the air cleaner should be chrome.......go adhead and spend the extra few bucks and get aluminum......Everything should be aluminum or stainless. Unless you are just building a old beater.........My bolts are even polished stainless with logo engravings. Attached Images

07-23-2002, 01:23 AM	#14
Hooter My other Love Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Castlegar B.C. Canada Posts: 4,085	i had one of those chrome therm housings. damn thing corroded on me too. not maiking that mistake twice __________________ Castlegar B.C.The great white North (Canada Eh!) Hooter_5@hotmail.com First generation Monte Carlo club pictures of my life

07-23-2002, 01:33 AM	#15
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	that's bizarre... i've been running a chrome one for a couple years with no problem, i'm using that orange long life prestone... __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...



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07-23-2002, 02:15 AM	#16
68SWB4x4 Strongman Garage Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Salinas, CA Posts: 10,241	ive heard of this happening to a bunch of diffrent people who run chrome thermo housings......... this looks like a good topic for the review board...... so im moving it there __________________ Kalle 68 GMC Suburban 1500 4x4 SOLD 69 Pontiac Lemans 99 Silverado 4.8 5 speed ECSB [ Facebook Instagram Subscribe on YOUTUBE

07-23-2002, 08:12 AM	#17
Bamm Cowboy Fan for Life!!!!!! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Amelia, Virginia Posts: 2,921	Go Billet.............JB __________________ 1967 ShortBed Fleetside 3/4 Drop 350/700R4 Tilt wheel 18 x 8 Torque Thrust II's Future mods: All new gauges & wood bed My Zip is 23002 I ship UPS, USPS

07-23-2002, 06:34 PM	#18
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Well, my chrome one (with O-ring) has been in use since '98 when i bought the first Longhorn...no tellin how long it was on that truck before I got it. So far so good, and I really like the O-ring too. On the one that the holes did not line up on, it was probably a pontiac one, thy look the same, but the holes don't quite match up. Pontiac and caddy have the same hole spacing too just in case any one was losing sleep with that question.

08-13-2002, 10:10 PM	#19
1971LT1SWBPOSI373 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, VA Posts: 460	Same thing happened to me. Except my pin hole was located on the round part directly above the thermostat. I threw it out and bought a cast iron one from NAPA. Those things are junk, not worth risking your engine over. __________________ 1971 Shortbed 350/350 w/ Posi-traction 3:73's 1996 Chevy Silverado TJ in Springfield, Virginia Likes old Chevy trucks Drinks Miller MGD

08-14-2002, 10:55 AM	#20
Custom 68 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,939	no problems here I have had one with a temp sender hole on top for oh 10 years or so and no problems. Used to be my daily driver not as much now. Just pulled the engine and took that off still looks good? __________________ Dave 1968 Custom Chevy with turbo charged 5.3 gen III 4l80e swap 1967-71 GMC 3/4 ton long step 4x4 (not sure what year exactly?) "A good friend will bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "that was frekin awesome". "If it doesn't fit force it...If it breaks then it needed to be replaced anyway!"

09-03-2002, 05:41 PM	#21
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	The chrome ones corrode, and the pot metal stock ones warp. I finally went to Napa and got a cast iron one. Haven't had problems since, but the key is a good gasket and flat clean surfaces. Fel-Pro #35562T. It's a reusable gasket, and you don't use tack or gasket sealer to put it in. Just shove it in and tighen it down. Done. __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

09-10-2002, 01:17 PM	#22
Nathan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12	If you can buy the part at O'Rielly's or Autozone in the "Dress Up" area, don't buy it. (Hell if it is from Autozone, don't buy it no matter what it is.) I've had problems with them not leaking, but when I go to flush the system and I change the hose, the damn neck on it will break off. I went back to the cast iron one. __________________ Nathan Vice President Texas Truck Association

09-12-2002, 12:09 AM	#23
SoCal71K20 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Lemon Grove, California Posts: 152	Count me in too.I used one before and it was crap.I think more than type of coolant, is country of orgin of those damn chrome pieces.I went to Napa to get a cast one with the little carb return spring hole cast into it.Guess where it come from? Yeah,china too. But yeah keep your green coolant fresh.I have heard too many negative stories about the orange GM death-cool on a 90's Suburban forum.I also flushed that stuff out and replaced it with green coolant on my 98 Suburban.

10-03-2002, 10:31 PM	#24
Crank Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Crittenden, KY Posts: 1,965	What does it do to the aluminum intakes? Are the only thermo housings that corrode are made of Steel, metal, what? Yeah, what about billet specialties billet ones? Would they corrode? Are there any complaints about these? Nice bolts too, Themattman, where did you get hooked up with those, i've seen em before, did you get a whole set for your motor? Brandon

10-20-2002, 12:33 AM	#25
GMC JUNKIE TOO THE QUICKER FIXERUPER Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ok Posts: 615	I had a problem with chromed heater hose fittings the only ones i could find were chrome cost 11.99!!! got them home and one was steel and one not a few months it split all down one side found one for 2.99 and it works great.

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