Tips To Getting T-stat Housing To Seal?

[5.0 Ford Guy]

I've used both blue and black with a fel pro gasket and never had a leak. Let the RTC set up a little until tacky. I agree do not use those crappy aftermarket housings. Lay the housing face down on a flat surface or place a flat edge on it to see if it is warped first.

Another fine example of what happens when a cast POS is locked into a fixture and machined. The fixture design is sub-par and warps the housing. It is then machined and when removed from the fixture it returns to its unrestrained "free state", making the once flat machined surface warp as the part relieves itself.

 

[madspeed]

sounds like a torture chamber of some sort

 

[5.0 Ford Guy]

That's about what a fixture for machining castings looks like.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I've used just RTV, just a gasket, a cutout off a 12 pack of Coke (seriously) and have had good luck getting all of them to seal. If you use any kind of gasket, use RTV on both sides. I like to use a 1/32-1/16 thick layer on both sides. Make sure you tighten each bolt down evenly.

 

[old_blue]

+1 on RTV. I used the blue sealer and never had any leaks with it on my mustangs. Back when I had my 65 Ranchero I had a similar issue and found the actually housing was just garbage. I went to pepboys and bought one that was a little more beefier where the bolts when through the housing. Solved my issues.