Thermostat on top conversion

[EVOrider]

Anyone here converted their '83-84 engines to the '85 style where the thermostat is up top?

I have an opportunity to purchase the top portion where the thermostat lives. Looks to me like...all I need is the top portion plus different hoses pertaining to the 1985 model.

I never understood why it was located in the front near the bottom....

 

[wildbill23c]

Subscribed. I'm somewhat interested in doing this as well. My only concern would be trying to get good parts to do the change. Right now I need a radiator but not exactly wanting one from a junk yard as I'm 35 miles away, so if I get a bad one its quite a bit of gas to waste having to drive back and forth. Noticed that the Bronco Graveyard has them for about $190 so I may go that route. Then go to the JY for the parts to move my thermostat, I always hated them being in the lower housing, pain in the a** to get to, would have made so much sense putting it in the top then again that would have made too much sense and would have made it too easy to work on, nothing on these 2.8L's were designed for ease of repair.

 

[drgrcr]

Did the move on my 83 about a year ago. Had to change the bypass hose to the larger 1" hose and put a pipe plug in the intake manifold were the bypass hose was connected.
Did not notice any difference in cooling, but it easier to get too.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Do it it made a huge difference with mine. I stumbled into mine looking for a egr spacer. It keeps the engine at a more steady temp and the larger bypass seems to help the heater alot. If you have been overheating you probably need to replace the water pump also. Ever since i flushed the block out with the water pump off I no longer get brown coolant. With the pump off blast the block out good with high pressure water it gets rid of all that rust that settles in the low spots. Backflush the radiator and heater core. My temp guage never goes up past half way even with the 195 degree tstat.

 

[wildbill23c]

What parts are needed to do this?

 

[ammocj]

I don't recommend it.
I had done mine awhile ago but switched back.
Couldn't get any heat out of the heater when it's below zero outside.

I really don't need to service the thermostat very often anyway.
I get great heat now. Engine temps seem to vary depending on outside temps and load but I don't mind as long as it doesn't overheat. So far it hasn't.
Having heat in the cab is most important to me.

Al

 

[wildbill23c]

Hmm, interesting. I had an 84 Ranger prior to my 84 Bronco 2 and had several issues with it getting hot and finally ended up putting in a lower temp thermostat and it solved the problem. My bronco 2 runs between 190 and 200 degrees continuously, so I'm not too worried about it. It doesn't overheat or hasn't yet and it got driven around in 100 degree plus temps this past summer. I notice it kind of gets warmer in the winter though for some reason.