Thermostat O-ring????

[Brooook]

Decided to replace the thermostat on my VP and cracked the thermostat housing. Parts shop (nameless) sold me a thermostat and separate gasket and rubber O-ring. They made a big deal of selling me the O-ring but the thermostat had one with it. Couldn't figure out where the O-ring sat and thought it must squash down and the old one must have deteriorated to nothing. WRONG!!! It doesn't need an O-ring. Tightened it down and CRACK.

Looking again, the thermostat fits flush into the engine WITHOUT THE O-RING, so shall I just smear a bit of gasket goo there instead?

I searched the forums and a pic of a 3.8 engine showed the thermostat on top to the right (when looking at the engine standing at the front) but my thermostat is on the left of the engine. Are there subtle differences in engines and mine doesn't have the o-ring? Why did they make such a big deal to sell it to me?

Getting a new (2nd hand) thermostat housing today and hoping I am correct, this time, about there NOT being an o-ring.

Help please.....

[neet_wagon]

I know for a fact that the seriesI (thermostat at rear of motor) has an o-ring with the thermo housing.
The engine with the thermostat on top to the right would be an ecotec if im not mistaken.
There are two different housings for the seriesII (with the housing on the left) one goes to the left as I'd imagine yours would,
and the other 'outlets' 90degrees from the block (comes out facing the front)

I would say that your thermostat housing would of cracked not because you had an oring wedged in there, but because you had a seriesI thermostat housing.

...........I could be wrong.

[vp_commo]

get a manual, there is a picture clearly showing the setup.


Dan

[nathanVY]

mate I did my thermostat on the VR a few weeks ago. no rubber seals (may have originally had a gasket) just used gasket glue and a thermostat. its ok I cracked my thermostat housing the first time too by overtightening. but the new one is shinier

but yeah, no leaks no problems thus far (a month on)

[neet_wagon]

^^^^^ Man you have to do so much on your car!!

[nathanVY]

^^^^^ Man you have to do so much on your car!!

who me? it's not THAT bad is it lol.

[neet_wagon]

who me? it's not THAT bad is it lol.

Yeah you.

Lol, could be worse i spose...........maybe.

[nathanVY]

yer the list is un ending. what do you think I should do to it?

[ruffiano]

.... but the new one is shinier

Made my morning!!

[neet_wagon]

yer the list is un ending. what do you think I should do to it?

What have you done to it so far? Thermostat, leaky heater, radiator, fuel filter, 02 sensor, trans, and I could of sworn there was more than this!

With any luck you shouldn't have to do any more to it!

[nathanVY]

What have you done to it so far? Thermostat, leaky heater, radiator, fuel filter, 02 sensor, trans, and I could of sworn there was more than this!

With any luck you shouldn't have to do any more to it!

i'm super paranoid about stuff lol. yer done radiator, thermostat, alternator.

going to do: service (trans/engine fluid and filter change), 02 sensors could be shot, will change them when I put my pacies in

its getting there, getting the paint fixed up on sunday!! won't look like a sunburnt back anymore. also getting new chrome strips off ebay, 18"s, then some kind of lowering and she'll be looking much better

oh and the dash conversion. lol


edit: part of the idle issue was a FILTHY throttlebody, which is now sparkly clean

Made my morning!!

ahah good.

[neet_wagon]

So you ended up getting some pacies than? good stuff.
Yeah, filthy tb will do that!
What are you doing to the dash? lvl3 cluster?

[nathanVY]

So you ended up getting some pacies than? good stuff.
Yeah, filthy tb will do that!
What are you doing to the dash? lvl3 cluster?

yer pacies are pending winning the ebay acution lol.
yep lvl 3 stato dash, gonna do the LED conversion and the sticky fuel/temp gauge fix at the same time.

oh yer and its got a shudder on take off. need to get the rear suspension looked at.

lol. it's a good car and will be perfect, soon enough haha.

[neet_wagon]

yer pacies are pending winning the ebay acution lol.
yep lvl 3 stato dash, gonna do the LED conversion and the sticky fuel/temp gauge fix at the same time.

oh yer and its got a shudder on take off. need to get the rear suspension looked at.

lol. it's a good car and will be perfect, soon enough haha.

perfect commodore........... shudder could be related to the driveline or brakes more than the suspension.

Continue this off topic convo in your engine rebuild thread............

[nathanVY]

no probs, sorry for jacking the thread broook. let us know how you go.

[Brooook]

Sounds like I have a lefty left Series II.

Hopefully a VN thermostat housing will fit? It's the only one the wrecker has today........

[Brooook]

Nathan, the shudder could be as simple as not getting your tyres balanced last time you got new tyres? You might've paid for fitting and balance and then the young stupid tyre guys forget to do it......happened to me once.

[neet_wagon]

VN seriesI won't fit
VN seriesII will be a 'lefty-left'

[Brooook]

Wrong one it was series 1 and I needed series 2, but I see where the O-ring goes on the series 1 now....

Holden takes 3 days from Aus for a new one ($87), so I'm carless. I'll see what the wreckers can get next week - shipped up from Stewart Is or wherever it is they get parts from when they can't source it locally.

[vp_commo]

would cost $8.00 at a wreckers.

Dan