3877660 thermostat housings

[Greg L.]

Does anyone really know when the casting number was moved from the base of the housing to the top of the neck and could they have both been used during the same time frame?

The reason I ask is that it would appear that my Jan 16/69 built L36 has the incorrect housing in that the number is cast on the base. However while at the regional meet this month I noticed another L36 which was about 2000 cars earlier than mine also having the same housing with the part number cast on the base.

Now I can't speak for that car but given the overall unmolested condition my car was in when I bought it in 88 I really don't think that my housing had been replaced.

I have both types of housings now but I'm unsure as to which one to use. I'm pretty sure that the one with the numbers on the base is the original one but if I wanted to make it "correct" as per the TIM&JG then I'll have to use the other one with the numbers on the neck.

I'm not knocking the TIM&JG because it's a great book but I do know of some errors in it and this might be another one. I think we should be carefull and not change a part just because it tells us to without giving it some thought first. Then again if we all change our "incorrect" housings with the P/N on the base over to the one with the P/N on the neck then it will appear that the TIM&JG is in fact correct when if fact in this case I think it might be wrong or incomplete.

Food for thought anyways.

Greg Linton
#45455

[Terry M.]

Re: 3877660 thermostat housings

Did you ask the owner of the car you saw in Florida about the history of that thermostat housing?

[Greg L.]

Re: 3877660 thermostat housings

No Terry I would have liked too but in a bit of a hurry so I took a quick pick and carried on.

I know that it could have been replaced but I'll bet it was the original too. You know to be totally honest, in all the years that I was a automotive mechanic I can't remember ever changing any thermostat housing. We would sometimes file the base flat again if they got warped from over tightening the bolts but we never replaced any. And I've replaced lots of thermostats on customer requests to try and keep the heaters working in these Canadian winters.

I'd almost bet the farm that the 3877660 housings with the p/n cast onto the flange were used to at least some degree until at least Jan 16-69.

[Verle R.]

Re: 3877660 thermostat housings

Greg,

I cannot answer your specific question because I just don't remember.

I will shed some light on how an earlier revision of the 68/69 Judging Guide was approached.

We went to a great deal of trouble, time and expense to look at unmolested cars, including Bowtie cars. We had early cars and late cars sitting side by side and spent considerable time documenting the difference between specific parts on those cars.

Having said that, we also recognized the few cars we used did not cover the full range of possible changes made over the year. There are bound to be gaps and errors.

Subsequent revisions of that manual have made changes, additions and error corrections so the manuals continue to get better. There will always be room for improvement.

Keep in mind that Judging Manuals of all years are a work in progress. We are learning all the time and, without a doubt, will for the foreseeable future.

One way that happens is for members to ask questions and this board is a good place for those questions. Questions like yours often lead to an investigation that we learn from.

So, keep asking those questions.

To address your question, if you are convinced the thermostat housing is original leave it on the car, I would.

Verle

[Greg L.]

Re: 3877660 thermostat housings

Well I just read the 68-69 TIM&JG again and all it says for "numbers" is this[ Original housings have an alpha numeric code cast into the top] It doesn't mention anything about where the P/N should be but I have had some very knowledgeable people tell me that the number should be on the neck in 69 so that was what I was going with.

I can't be a 100% sure that it's the original one because I'm not the original owner but given what I said in my previous post and the basic unmolested condition that the car was in when I bought it in 88 I'm leaning towards it being the one that the car came with.

I see that it is allowed 3 points on originality and 3 points on condition so at most I might loose 1 point on originality. I think that in this case I'll use it because I'd rather take a point hit and keep it "correct" than reinforce the side that says the p/n should be on the neck.

Oh and you can bet that I'll keep asking questions. I don't know where I'd be on this restoration without all you guys. Actually I probably would have been done long ago... ...but it wouldn't be done to the level that it will be when I am done!

[Chuck S.]

No 'Duck' Tape', Eh?!... *NM*

[Greg L.]

Not unless I need it to hold the paint on *NM*

[Peter L.]

Re: 3877660 thermostat housings

Greg - If you haven't already, check the archives. There have several (more than several) threads on the 660 and the location of the part number.

Several years ago, I saw a GM drawing, vintage 1968, for the 660 and it indicated that the manufacture had to put the part number on it and that they could put the number on the base or on the neck.

Pete