Thermostat housing on sbc 400

[Malamute]

The PO had a cheapo chrome housing which started leaking recently. Pulled it off today and there was a lot of grimy stuff in there and in the threads of the manifold. There also was just rtv and no gasket.

Two questions: Should I use a gasket w/ rtv on each side(what I always thought you should do) and what is the best way to clean the threads out? I don't want to get the bolt cross threaded in the manifold, that would not be good.

Thanks.

[69GWC]

I have found that it seems only the chrome housing that have a rubber O-ring seem to seal well, the ones without and just use a standard gasket allways seem to leak and I have had that the surface had warped and made them leak.

That said I would coat both sides of the gasket with a then layer of sealant and a tap would clean the threads out the best.
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[Malamute]

I replaced the chrome one with a more cast-looking one. It's a Murray from O'Reilly so we'll see how it does. I'll lightly coat each side after I get those threads cleaned out.

Thanks.

[Pop's C-10]

felpro 35562T gasket..

[Malamute]

Thanks Pop's. Go with that over the one that came with the housing?