Yesterday I changed from a 160* back to a 195* thermostat due to the cold weather.
Well, I used a Felpro Permadry gasket. It's one of those blue hard plastic ones.
After I bolted everything together, I started her up and then it started to leak from the front of the waterneck.
The waterneck I am using is one of the chrome Mr Gasket ones. It came with a rubber O ring that started to leak about a month ago. When I put on the permadry gasket, I didn't use the old rubber O ring gasket. I then proceeded to use a normal paper gasket. I installed that without using the old rubber O ring and it leaked even more than the permadry. Well, I finally used the old rubber O ring and the paper gasket and it seems to be holding now.
Can someone explain to me why it was leaking without using the old O ring.

thanks

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Zepher
'86 Pontiac Trans Am WS6, LG4 305, 5 Speed, CF DF Clutch,
Edelbrock 1406 Carb, Edelbrock Performer RPM 7101 Intake Manifold.
Edelbrock Open Element Air Cleaner: Flowmaster Exhaust, 160* Thermostat,
Grant GT Steering Wheel, MSD HEI Coil, Taylor 8mm Wires, Leather 96 Camaro SS Seats,
Alpine CD+Changer,Alpine V12 Amps, Premier TS-1040C Subs, Polk Audio highs/mids.
Best ET: 14.94@91.67
High Speed Run: 157mph
WS6 Trans Am

 

Its the chrome outlet. (I've never had any luck with those things personally)They are a pain in the a** to get not to leak unless the manifold surface and outlet are new.

I've got 2 cars in the shop right now with chrome outlets and they leak too.

If its not leaking now, it sounds like you've got it covered, I would just keep an eye on it.

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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R

GO #3

[This message has been edited by Engineboy (edited January 08, 2001).]

 

Zephyr, I'm going to guess that without the o-ring, the chrome housing was never able to put an indentation in the gasket to "mush" against, to lock down a waterproof seal. Kind of like how a beer mug slides really well on top of a wet bar... the two flat surfaces (waterneck & gasket) slip on each other, but never dig in without the o-ring.

I know with my 2.8, I'm kind of screwed; after all the years of gasket scraping, I've removed a ridge (similar to that of your o-ring) from the waterneck. I always get leaks, even with using sealer, until I keep retorquing the bolts. Damn thing drives me nuts. And I don't think there's any waternecks with o-rings for the smaller v6 thermostat.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

[This message has been edited by TomP (edited January 08, 2001).]

 

Could be something as simple as the bolts not tight enough, or screwed in at a funny angle, not enough to strip, happened to my dad, mechanic found it and charged him $55 for a fix. Just took a bit of patience

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--Steve S-- 84 Trans Am 305 (cough)LG4(cough), 5 speed, Flowmaster 80 series, otherwise an emissions restricted slow 150 hp(chilton rating) 240 torquer that needs RELEASE!!!!

P.S. Daily Driver

 

Well, seems to be working still.
Bolts are straight and tight.

thanks guys

 

Buy that blue compound that looks like toothpaste. It's a blue silicone in a squeeze bottle. I use it everytime I change my t-stat and it works great. Hell, I even used it with a torn gasket!

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91 Formula
305 TPI 5speed
1LE/G92/WS6
K&N, SLP airfoil, ported/polished plenum, March pulleys, TB coolant bypass,Crane AFPR(47psi),Crane Gold 1.6rrs,MSD coil,MSD6AL, Holley 9mm wires,Bosch O2sensor, SLP headers & catback,3:73s w/Auburn posi,160* t-stat,JET 195* fan switch, Macewen white face gauges, Autometer gauges, Zoom hi-performance clutch.
Street legal with stock throttle body, runners,intake manifold,cam, and heads.