Yet another thermostat housing thread

[TrojanOreo]

I'm gonna cry...

Drilled the hole, tapped the hole, inserted the thread. So at this point, I'm ecstatic. Put everything together, fill'er up and....pssss....leaking anti-freeze right by that bolt.... :tapemouth

So, I'm giving up. Going to get another thermo housing. But first, I've got to get her home. Soooo, I'm gonna tighten down the working bolt and JB Weld the rest, leave it a day or two, and slow roll it the 10 mile trip home. I'm taking no chances when I get the new thermo housing. (well, not new, but y'know) It's heading to the shop (I can't believe those words just came out my mouth) to get installed so I don't have to deal with any more busted bolts, especially on the head.

Such a bummer. :disappoin

EDIT: I was browsing the MSA catalog, they have one for $30. Not too bad considering it'll be new. Anyone bought one or anything mechanical from them? I've bought tons of cosmetic stuff from here already with no complaints (except of course, some of the prices) but figuring it'll cost close to that at the junkers, I'm thinking why not. Any input? Thanks for everyone's help through this!

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by TrojanOreo

EDIT: I was browsing the MSA catalog, they have one for $30. Not too bad considering it'll be new. Anyone bought one or anything mechanical from them? I've bought tons of cosmetic stuff from here already with no complaints (except of course, some of the prices) but figuring it'll cost close to that at the junkers, I'm thinking why not. Any input? Thanks for everyone's help through this!

Sorry to hear about the leak. Is the housing cracked, or did you drill through the housing wall?

When driving the car home, leave the radiator cap loose so there is no pressure in the system. That will minimize any coolant loss, but watch the guage carefully.

The T-Housing that I bought from MSA turned out to be a Nissan OEM T-Housing. no problems with it.

When you take the car to a shop, be prepared for them to break a bolt and as a result charge you more than the original estimate. It may not happen, but IMO there is a good chance it will. Those bolts are notorious for turning to mush over the years.

Good Luck!

[wal280z]

Originally posted by TrojanOreo

I was browsing the MSA catalog, they have one for $30. Not too bad considering it'll be new. Anyone bought one or anything mechanical from them?

Any input? Thanks for everyone's help through this!

Be careful you don't get bit by the 'bug'.... you know, the bug that makes you take something else off and clean it since now you can't have this new part bolted up next to the dirty old stuff... 6 years later you are still looking at all the nice shiny parts that can't go back on until you do this or that to the chassis...

Do yourself a favor and throw the new t-stat housing around, get it dirty and then bolt it up...

This is what I did to my new one I bought from MSA...

Also, don't forget to get yourself a new temp sender (the single bullet in the picture) from them as well...

Good luck...

Wayne

[ChrisA]

Originally posted by wal280z

....don't forget to get yourself a new temp sender (the single bullet in the picture) from them as well..

Wayne is right, you'll have a fun time trying to remove the water temp sensor from the lower housing. All those years of hot/cold cycles and the fact that brass and aluminum dont mix well. Get factory Nissan parts for the sender if you can, the set I bought from VB wasnt even close to original. Dealer got them for me no problem.

Get some antiseize and put some on all the bolts for the thermostat housing. If you ever have to change the t-stat again you'll be amazed at how easy the bolts will come out.

My .02

Chris

[ddezso]

Gents - I just experienced the same issue with a broken bolt on the thermno housing. I've just started working on cars and figured replacing the old worn thermostat was easy preventative maintainance.

Whoops!!

The bolt closest to the drivers side snapped off. I tried everything to get it loose and wound up drilling it out. I drilled through the bottom of the housing straight down in the same direction as the bolt. I put in the new thermostat, put on the new gasket, and used a sheet metal screw on the drilled out screw hole to hold it down nice and firm.

It didn't seem like drilling through the bottom put a hole between the fluid chamber and the outside world. When I start the car and rev it it doesnt take long for a fountain of fluid to come pouring out. I can't tell if it is coming out the new bottom hole or along the gasket.

I have never performed this operation. Am I supposed to use some sort of gasket sealer or is in just the hole I poked getting me? I can order a new housing but would prefer not to. I have an inspection appt Monday to get it finally registered.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

[=Enigma=]

Be careful you don't get bit by the 'bug'.... you know, the bug that makes you take something else off and clean it since now you can't have this new part bolted up next to the dirty old stuff

Funny stuff there Wayne!

[ddezso]

I just bought a new housing from VB so I'm just gonna replace the whole lot..........

[sblake01]

Be careful removing the housing from the head.