Thermostat Housing "REPRO"

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Has anyone ever tried to repro these? I'm finding the cost of these is ridiculous, IMO. Thank God I have one for my 88. I do need more for other projects though.

[Jagdpanzer]

I've heard it said there is a remote thermostat assembly from Ford Mustangs that may work however, I've never checked this out to confirm if this is possible.

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Thanks, Phil.

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Took my housing to the fab shop this morning for a quote. I'll know more tomorrow.

I told them I wanted somethiing that would perform and function as original. It will not look identical but will function properly.

[Z51JEFF]

The prices for these are crazy,Id like to have an extra but not about to pay $600+ for one.

[Marc Haibeck]

Hi Brett,

I have had two people borrow a thermostat housing so that they could copy it. Neither of them followed through to reproduce it.

I have never heard of a source for the thermostat housing. We need a new source for it.

Branden Coe is stripping a '93 in California. Maybe he still has it available.

Marc

[limey]

Yep, we went this route a few years back. Same old problem i'm afraid, tooling costs and minimum production runs far outweigh any potential to make it $$$$ possible.

Hate to say it, but unless you get it made overseas for about $30.00 - $50.00 per, you'll never get back anything like your investment back, let alone make a profit.

[Scrrem]

There are a # of LT5's still around, seems like there should be a stash of these things out there somewhere Why are they so hard to come by? I've never had a problem with mine in the 90. In an accident, I guess it' the first thing to get crushed.
Rich

[Blue Flame Restorations]

We'll see. They aren't worth the advertized cost to "me". No offense to anyone here but I'm not concerned with a $30-$50 manufacturing cost so I can mark it up. I need the part and can make it for a cost reasonable to me.

I manufacture several parts for the 53-55 market, so this is not new to me.

I am from Anderson, IN. Home of General Motors Divisions Delco Remy, Guide Lamp, Delphi. I have managed at all three Divisions at one time or another. I have many relationships built with the Skilled Trades community here.

There are many toolmakers, pattern shops and retired craftsman around here in my network.

Stay tuned.

[Z51JEFF]

I think the biggest part would be having the cast body made.welding the pipes to this would be easy enough.

[GOLDCYLON]

There are a # of LT5's still around, seems like there should be a stash of these things out there somewhere Why are they so hard to come by? I've never had a problem with mine in the 90. In an accident, I guess it' the first thing to get crushed.
Rich


Rich no really a lot of folks dont let these go without the entire engine, so they are still a tuff find. My Spare I paid almost $400 for just in case

[xlr8nflorida]

Rich no really a lot of folks dont let these go without the entire engine, so they are still a tuff find. My Spare I paid almost $400 for just in case


Agreed, I have a new one in a box and it was not cheap. It's the only new one I have seen offered in 10 years.

[GOLDCYLON]

Agreed, I have a new one in a box and it was not cheap. It's the only new one I have seen offered in 10 years.

If I remember it was in the $700 region?

[Blue Flame Restorations]

I will have a unit made that will function as new for a lot less. I'm not really concerned if I sell many of them. That's not why I am having them made. I need a couple and I'm a tight azz at heart. :cheers:

[tccrab]

You would think that GM in their infinite wisdom would have seen fit to make a few extra of these items.
By the sounds of it there were only a handful of extra ones ever produced.
Makes you wonder, exactly how many were made?

TomC
'Crabs

[tpr60]

Local rod builder has a mid year with a LT5 he is building. No thermostat housing. Made a plate to hold a small thermostat for each water neck, looks like it should work.

[A26B]

Local rod builder has a mid year with a LT5 he is building. No thermostat housing. Made a plate to hold a small thermostat for each water neck, looks like it should work.

If he doesn't have the bypass system, he may "balloon" the radiator under high rpm conditions.

[GOLDCYLON]

If he doesn't have the bypass system, he may "balloon" the radiator under high rpm conditions.


Yep. Thats what I was thinking the original thermostat looks like a jarvic heart for just that reason.

[A26B]

.........the original thermostat looks like a jarvic heart.............

That's funny!

[Blue Flame Restorations]

I plan to machine a block of aluminum for the inner area and the pathways for the flow. The small outlet will be tapped/threaded and the pipes will be welded. The upper housing will be of an alumium GM piece that I will choose from an in-stock item. This won't be that hard, really, the more I look at it.

[Z51JEFF]

Yep. Thats what I was thinking the original thermostat looks like a jarvic heart for just that reason.

And pretty much thats where the price came from.

[tomtom72]

Local rod builder has a mid year with a LT5 he is building. No thermostat housing. Made a plate to hold a small thermostat for each water neck, looks like it should work.

I'm not trying to be a wise guy so don't take this the wrong way. When i first read this I thought "now that's slick!"

However upon further reflection some things stumbled into my thoughts.
What happens if one fails and one doesn't? My correction would be to use the AutoZone "fail safe" stats, they fail 1/2 open.

What happens if both do not open & close at a rate say within 10% of each other? On an open deck motor I don't know if that's a good thing. I'm thinking flow restriction out of each side of the block and the resultant PSI build up under each head. I'm thinking steam pockets & turbulence?

Not trying to be a wise a$$. :o

:cheers:
Tom

Brett, sorry for the Hi-jack.:o

[GOLDCYLON]

I'm not trying to be a wise guy so don't take this the wrong way. When i first read this I thought "now that's slick!"

However upon further reflection some things stumbled into my thoughts.
What happens if one fails and one doesn't? My correction would be to use the AutoZone "fail safe" stats, they fail 1/2 open.

What happens if both do not open & close at a rate say within 10% of each other? On an open deck motor I don't know if that's a good thing. I'm thinking flow restriction out of each side of the block and the resultant PSI build up under each head. I'm thinking steam pockets & turbulence?

Not trying to be a wise a$$. :o

:cheers:
Tom

Brett, sorry for the Hi-jack.:o

Tom your not a wise ***. Your one of the most "thoughtful" for the benefit of others meember on here. :-D The solution presented may work well for that rod solution but I really dont think so. However I remember reading in the HOTB about the specific issues and totally different circulation issues that were used by the GM engineers specifically for the LT5. Steam Pockets, turbelence and cavitation could be real key problems.

[tpr60]

Thanks guys for your thoughts, I passed them on down the line. Two or more heads are always better then one.

Found a Jag separate thermostat housing similar to the zr1, will let everyone know if it works out.

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Just an update to the project. I am having the housings cast and machined. The units will look very close to original, afterall. Machining will be performed on the Bridgeport. Once machined, the rest will be pretty straight forward.

More to follow as I progress.

[tomtom72]

:saluting: =D> :notworthy

Way to be Brett! :cheers:

[Blue Flame Restorations]

:saluting: =D> :notworthy

Way to be Brett! :cheers:


Tom, your extra unit is in the pipeline, for all the help and parts you have given me with the 88.:cheers:

[tomtom72]

Tom, your extra unit is in the pipeline, for all the help and parts you have given me with the 88.:cheers:

Brett, I'm trying to think of how I say "Thank You" after reading your post. Some how just saying "Thank You Brett" just don't seem to cover this.

You Sir are a gentlemen and a scholar, and a great judge of fine whiskey and motor cars! Thank You!

Hey, do you need ignition coils for Elvis? I found my OEM/BG coils that I swapped out from my car? Oh, they work too even at 15 yrs old & about 14k miles. I swapped them when my OE injectors went out to lunch.

:cheers:
Tom

[VetteMed]

Brett, that's great to hear! it's nice not to have to be in the crosshairs of parts hoarders :-)

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Brett, I'm trying to think of how I say "Thank You" after reading your post. Some how just saying "Thank You Brett" just don't seem to cover this.

You Sir are a gentlemen and a scholar, and a great judge of fine whiskey and motor cars! Thank You!

Hey, do you need ignition coils for Elvis? I found my OEM/BG coils that I swapped out from my car? Oh, they work too even at 15 yrs old & about 14k miles. I swapped them when my OE injectors went out to lunch.

:cheers:
Tom

No need to thank me, Tom. Gald to do it. The 88 has new injectors but I appreciate the thought, as always.:cheers:

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Brett, that's great to hear! it's nice not to have to be in the crosshairs of parts hoarders :-)


After having been in manufacturing for years, I enjoy the challenge of reproducing parts that I need or are hard to find.

[PhillipsLT5]

Don't stop there, keep going

[Blue Flame Restorations]

What else do we need?

[GOLDCYLON]

What else do we need?


Rear bumber inset moldings.... From the rear quarter Doglegs to the center license plate each side

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Rear bumber inset moldings.... From the rear quarter Doglegs to the center license plate each side


I have access to a set to make molds from. Later this year I'll get the molds made and make them.

[Blue Flame Restorations]

I spoke to the foundry this morning and should have a functional prototype for the thermostat housings within a month or so. Hopefully before Carlisle.

The design will be a near exact copy of the casting. There is only one pathway that has a compound angle that I will not be able to machine. This outlet will be a straight bore with an elbow threaded to accomodate both angles. Otherwise, the casting will be unmodified. The upper thermostat housing is also being cast as OEM.

Once I have the prototype and a unit cost, I will post a pic of it and ask for those interested to raise their hand. I will probably make a run of ten or so. I need two, myself, and TomTom will receive the first one to the group.

[Kevin]

me love you long time! the rear plate holder is long dead from GM.

[Blue Flame Restorations]

me love you long time! the rear plate holder is long dead from GM.

It's on the list. I have an extra one for a pattern. The mold will need made before I can make the two pcs and bond them together. Pretty busy at the moment on restorations.

[Z51JEFF]

What else do we need?

Coolant hoses.I know with some scrounging a set can be put together but it would be nice to be able to buy and exact set at OEM specs,appearance.

[ScottZ95ZR1]

I have access to a set to make molds from.

Yes you do - all you have to do is shout. :thumbsup:

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Yes you do - all you have to do is shout. :thumbsup:

Yep! Scott offered to let me use them so all of us have a source at a reasonable cost.

The Brotherhood is alive and well.......:cheers:

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Coolant hoses.I know with some scrounging a set can be put together but it would be nice to be able to buy and exact set at OEM specs,appearance.


I will be making a set from existing hoses for the 88. After I make my set, I will then have all of the part numbers (from any parts store) to use to put sets together.