T-stat & housing Q's

[tomtom72]

Hi guys,
Can anyone tell me if the stock OE t-stat has the rubber sealing ring integrated into it? The one I just removed from my housing is like that??

Also I've never seen the clamping system used to hold the high fill and the heater core lines to the T-stat housing. You know those are the two smallest dia hoses on the housing. How do you get those clamps to release??? Is there a special tool for them? Man do I feel stupid!:???:

Thanks!:thumbsup:
Tom

[tomtom72]

I maybe the only Z owner that far into the stone age as I've never seen that type of clamp.:sign10: But I made it without breaking anything.

I don't know the name of the clamp type but if there is anyone else who has never seen them here's the dope. The actuating and holding mechanism is a plastic collar with small ends that stick out of the top of the end fitting by the crimp transition from rubber hose to metal end fitting. The metal fitting has "holes" big enough for fingers to get in, except my fingers are too fat! Anyway, if you can get in the holes just pinch the plastic and then pull the hose & it comes off. Be aware that one line has the mechanism in the hose end and goes onto a unique "nipple" on the housing. The other hose leaves the mechanism on the nipple on the housing. I'd be careful not to be to rough with this stuff, take your time it will be worth it as I don't know if the housing is ava. or NLA. If like me & you have fat digits, you can pinch the two tabs sticking out of the tops of both fittings. It is less effective but after the third try it worked.

The T-stat & O-ring. I never looked too closely at my new O-ring & didn't notice the groove in it. The t-stat sits in the groove! DUH! Put it in the housing and know that it will spring load itself against the rear opening in the housing, there's a machined seat back there. So when you go to put the rad side of the housing back on the T-stat is pushing against your effort to close the two halfs, not by much but just enough to annoy you. If you are like me & never did this before you might want to consider that the housing is aluminium(?) so be gentle. There is a brkt w/2 bolts holding it to the frame above the swaybar bushing/mt. One bolt requires a swivle 1/2" socket & the other is straight out there. The frame brkt attaches to the housing with two bolts, one a machine thread & short goes into a threaded boss on the housing's rear section(toward water pump). The other bolt is long and is one of two that hold the halfs together, the other lower bolt is the other that holds the halfs together. It takes a bit of mess'in around to put the brk + t-stat w/o-ring + the two halfs back together and have the o-ring seat correctly. Tedious work but just don't be in a hurry! I still had the housing attached to the water pump hose upon re-assembly but the other hoses to the housing were off. I put the rad side hose on the rad w/that housing 1/2. Then I loosely attached the frame brkt first and then put the short bkrt bolt to rear housing in loosely, then the t-stat and bring over the front 1/2 of the housing and start the upper housing bolt that is also the other brkt to housing bolt and then the lower bolt, this one is just a housing bolt, wiggle a bit and squeeze the two 1/2's to get the t-stat + o-ring to seat and not pinch the 0-ring and tighten the bolts by finger. The frame bolts are the last bolts I tightened.

Sorry to be long winded! I figure if anyone else out there is a rookie at this t-stat thing like I am...well let's just say the book makes it sound like a bunt! Maybe this will help.

:cheers:
Tom

[Aurora40]

Hey Tom, other than the weirdo clamp, is the T-stat pretty easy to change when you do the hoses? I'm thinking I'll do the hoses, T-stat and accessory belt once I gather all the parts. But I recall hearing the T-stat was a real pain somewhere. Was it fairly straightforward?

[tomtom72]

Hi Bob, Sorry for the long time to respond. The T-stat is a snap when you are doing the hoses. Just make sure when you use the new O-ring seal that you get it on the stat's front plate squarely...there is a groove that the top plate fits into so the O-ring is attached to the stat. The only juggeling you do is seating the stat in the housing & bringing the other 1/2 of the housing up to put it together, spring tension from the by-pass spring pushes the two halves apart...just a bit but just enough to make you pay attention. Other than that once you do it you will see what's up & know for the future.

:thumbsup:
Tom

[4DSZR1]

Quick tip.... Jack the car up and reemove the right side wheel before going after the T-stat. :)