On my 83, there's a rubber gasket that slips on around the metal edge of thermostat.

My 78 didn't have one of these. It wasn't leaking. I cannot find this part anywhere. It's either "out of stock", or just non-existant.

Did 20R thermostats not have this rubber seal, in addition to the paper gasket?

 

I had an 83 with a 22r and i want to say it also had the rubber seal around the thermostat. My 87 with a 22re definetely has one around the thermostat. It may be the difference in companies that make the thermostats.

 

20R was a paper gasket


.

 

My 94 22RE has an o-ring only; I haven't replaced my gasket on my 81 22R but from visually inspecting it this doesn't appear to have a paper gasket. Maybe try a 22RE o-ring gasket...... the thermostat housings look identical. I'm replacing my timing chain soon and plan on a new water pump and stat while I'm there, so let us know if it works, might as well get this stuff as well now....

 

thing is one never really knows just what water neck might be on the engine.

Put the gasket on if it does not leak your good to go.

Is there space for the rubber gasket on both sides of the thermostat housing??

 

Well, I guess it wasn't leaking with just the paper gasket and no o ring before, so hopefully it'll be good now. Thanks!

 

Aaaaannnnd...if the thermostat housing is leaking coolant, and the bolts are as tight as I dare to make them, where would you be looking for what I did wrong?

I laid the paper gasket flat on the bottom of the thermostat housing, put the thermostat on top of it, and then put the top of the housing on that.

Anything wrong there?

 

remember ..originally , the surfaces of the manifold and thurmo housing were machined flat , so a paper gasket would be fine ..

your unit is 30+ years old .. so you may have to "flatten" those surfaces again ..

checking with a straight edge would be your first step



.

 

You can also try coating the paper gasket in a light coat of RTV, as long as you don't overdue I don't see it causing any problems.

 

Alright, thanks.

It's going to a shop today to take care of some things I can't do anyways, so I guess I'll have them check it out.

 

Here is what the problem was:

Like I mentioned, I laid down the thermostat gasket, then the thermostat. The correct way is lay down the thermostat, then the gasket on top of that.

 

yes .. that is correct .. if you look at the manifold , there is a machined surface for the thermostat to fit into .. then the gasket


.