'90 2.3.. Cant get thermostat to seal to the housing?

[Mr4btTahoe]

Hey guys...

Rebuilt the cooling system from top to bottom on a '90 xlt - 2.3 5spd. Previous owner thought it would be ok to mix dexcool and green... barf. The sludge and smell.. aannyywwayys..

Replaced everything... but I'm having a problem getting the funky little thermostat to seal in the housing. I've tried a motorcraft and duralast thermostats.. same problem. Heat will get warm.. engine will not come up to temp (top hose warm-ish). Checked temps with an IR gun and the t-stat housing was ~160F after 30 minutes. At this point, I know coolant is bypassing the thermostat...

Is there a certain way the little legs on the thermostat are supposed to go? Are they supposed to lock into the housing or just push against the cyl. head? There isnt anywhere for the legs to go on the housing that I can see...

Any tricks to getting them to lock in place and actually function?

Thanks!
-Chris

 

[tomw]

If it is anything like my memory indicates, the seal has to be crammed into the housing until it seats, at which time you can bend the 'legs' out so their 'feet' sit in the groove around the housing, just inside of the gasket area. The feet will be trapped, and keep the stat fully seated so it will stay sealed.
tom