1957 FI thermostat housing?

[Bruce B.]

The 56-57 JM calls for a 3705018 cast iron thermostat houseing on fuel injected Corvettes prior to serial number 2000.
What is the correct finish on the housing and is it attached with studs and nuts or bolts?
Thanks in advance.
Bruce B.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1957 FI thermostat housing?

The 56-57 JM calls for a 3705018 cast iron thermostat houseing on fuel injected Corvettes prior to serial number 2000.
What is the correct finish on the housing and is it attached with studs and nuts or bolts?
Thanks in advance.
Bruce B.

Bruce-----


Virtually all, if not all, cast iron thermostat housings used on aluminum manifolds were painted with dull aluminum paint. I feel pretty confident that was the case for your application.

[Gary C.]

Re: 1957 FI thermostat housing?

Bruce, Joe's correct it's painted aluminum and attached with studs and nuts. No lock washers. Studs had a "o" or circle logo in the top. Gary....

[John D.]

Re: 1957 FI thermostat housing?

Bruce, Joe's correct it's painted aluminum and attached with studs and nuts. No lock washers. Studs had a "o" or circle logo in the top. Gary....

Hi Gary, So the studs for the top water outlet had an "O "or circle logo in the top??? That's quite interesting. I never saw that but that doesn't mean anything. Now we know that the FI fuel filter bracket had two adapter studs with a circle on them. Musta been the same company. Thanx, John D.

[John D.]

Re: 1957 FI thermostat housing?

The 56-57 JM calls for a 3705018 cast iron thermostat houseing on fuel injected Corvettes prior to serial number 2000.
What is the correct finish on the housing and is it attached with studs and nuts or bolts?
Thanks in advance.
Bruce B.

Bruce, In my humble opinion it was a major accomplishment that finally after an eon we recognized that the early '57 FI's had a cast iron water outlet. In our Pittsburgh Tri-State chapter there are a large number of real deal 57 FI cars and the sr. citizen owners have insisted that the cast iron outlet was and is correct.
Here is how I treat the cast iron water outlet Bruce. First I sand them flat on a surface plate the old fashion way. Then I blast the crap out of them and spray them with heat resistance silver paint.
Take care, John

[Bruce B.]

Re: 1957 FI thermostat housing?

John;
Per Garys input and the Judging Guide I cleaned up the the cast iron housing (3705018) and colored it sort of dull aluminum. The studs in the manifold do not have the circle on them and I didn't want to take them out to mark them. The studs holding the fuel filter bracket do have the circles on them. See attached pictures
As usual I always appreciate your input.
I hear that the Seven Springs meet went well.
Take care,
Bruce B.

[Gary C.]

Re: 1957 FI thermostat housing?

Bruce, there were 3 suppliers for most nuts & bolts except for some of the unique FI fasteners.. I have 1 FI base plate with studs that "0" logo and 2 FI base plates with no markings. The fuel filter bracket studs were unique fastenersand all had "0" logo's. Just like the FI Filter bolts were unique and had B&H logos. Gary....

[Bruce B.]

Re: 1957 FI thermostat housing?

Gary,
Thanks for the great information.
It will be very interesting to see the next version of the 56-57 Judging Guide and see what changes are incorporated in it.
We just keep on learning.
Bruce B.