Today I noticed a small leak from what looks like the bottom of the water neck. Should I try and just fix the leak by putting some RTV around the whole base of the water neck? Or should I remove the water neck and thermostat and reseal it?

Another thing, when I squeezed the upper radiator hose you can hear a tick/clicking noise. Is that normal to hear the thermostat tick/click?

 

First, make sure the hose clamp is tightenned and seated in properly. If its still leaking, take out housing, scrap off the old gasket material, and reseal it with gasket and rtv. Might as well replace the thermostat while you are at it.

 

Pull the thermostat housing, check it and the manifold for corrosion or pitting that may cause coolant leaks. This would be a good time to drain the old coolant and refill with new and replace the thermostat. As for thermostat gaskets, I've always had good luck with the Fel Pro shown below.
http://www.autozone.com/R,APP749045/...ductDetail.htm

 

Do you use just the gasket, or o-ring and gasket?

 

Ok, sounds good. I'll be replacing it all tomorrow then. Anyone know why the thermostat would make a clicking noise when the upper hose is squeezed? Defective?

 

The thermostat shouldn't be clicking, it sits in one spot and doesn't move so part of it is probably broken.

 

I replaced the thermostat and gasket, and I think I know what the ticking noise was. I'm pretty sure it was the "Built-in bypass valve to remove air pockets" Does anyone else have this? If you don't know what I'm talking about I can get a picture just lmk.