redrsmk5

Hello All

I want to remove the thermostat housing so that i can flatten and polish it up ready for chroming.
My Question is if i drain the coolant from the header tank, and the pipe from the top of the rad with the swirl pot in, and also the long pipe that goes from the bottom of the rad to the thermostat will this be ok??? i dont want the car to incur any damage should it freeze without these components having coolant in. Im really concerned that when i take the thermostat off the Cylinder heads coolant will drain out and the head may get damaged without any coolant in during a bad frost....am i being really paranoid or is there an easier way around this????? Im not planning on starting the car up again until late February/early March
Part of living in England i suppose worrying about cold weather.

Any help or advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Martin

THE RADMAN

iTrader: (2)

just pull the bottom pipe off the rad and drain from there thats the easiest way, if you are going to split the stat housing then you will have to buy another stat to get the thin rubber seal that goes with it,i wouldnt recommend reusing the old one as they perish,problem is the stat is around £20+ you will also have to renew the hose that connects it to the water pump as this will also prob be well worn and is a total pain to get at so its worth renewing it whilst the stat housing is out the way,this also costs a fortune from ford,so best off using a short piece of silicon hose

MONSTER

The last thermostat i bought from ford was £45

S3an

get them off Stu at msd, about £10 iirc the 82 degrees one. as said can be a right bitch to reseal. was also told to renew the little hose behing the housing, about 1 1/2 long about 40 mm Diamter.

THE RADMAN

iTrader: (2)

£45 dave didnt think they were that much the little hose is the one im on about it connects the stat to the water pump

redrsmk5

Thanks all

Im hoping this will all be relatively easy and will be quite straightforward as im going along as its one part of the car ive not messed with yet!!!!! Do you advise replacing the thermostat whilst im doing this then???? it seems to be fine in the time ive had it. How many gaskets are there or is it all rubber O rings?

Radman: if i just want to polish the stat housing do i need to split it??

L3 COS

hi martin, sounds like yr worrying abit too much about it freezing up mate,it wont freeze up with no water in it,also any water left in the engine anyway has antifreeze in it im sure so not a problem,id take it apart then see wot you need/to replace, and go from there,as for the stat if the cars been fine and it looks mint id stick it back in,if its all grotty you may aswell replace it.
just rip the head off and dip the lot lol....

S3an

seal on the stat itself and a 'o' ring onto the housing

redrsmk5

Thanks K5SSY thats great pic and is very helpful

L3 COS: I am not taking the head off!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

MONSTER

THE RADMAN

iTrader: (2)

see what you mean no need to split the housing,but it would prob make polishing easier and be an ideal time to replace the stat just in case

Roosie

iTrader: (8)

so how much is that rubber ring as mines just broke up that goes on the face of the hosuing?