C3: 3877660 Thermostat housing?

[Dan Pepper]

The JG states that my '69 L46 should have an aluminum thermostat housing. The car has a cast iron unit that is the same config as the 3877660 aluminum housings I've seen. This is an october built car. Is the cast iron unit correct? Possibly a '70 part used in late production?

[Joe L.]

Re: C3: 3877660 Thermostat housing?

Dan-----

The only 1969 Corvette that used a cast iron thermostat housing was the L-88. That was also the last use of a cast iron thermostat housing on a Corvette. Cast iron thermostat housing were always kind of a stupid idea. Why pile on extra weight for a component like this? Anyway, the GM #3877660 is the correct thermostat housing for your application.

[Dan Pepper]

...then what is this housing application: 5 6053?

THanks, Joe-

The housing looks exactly like a 660 housing, but is cast iron. Here's a shot at describing the numbers as they appear on the neck:

If you were reading the numbers on the housing neck looking at it from the front of the engine, they are oriented left to right beginning just after the ball shape reading toward the inlet. There is a "5" that is laying on it's back on the baseline that the following numbers occupy: 6053

What application is this housing for?

[Joe L.]

Re: ...then what is this housing application: 5 60

Dan-----

I don't think that it's a GM piece; perhaps aftermarket.