Sudden Overheating Problem

Sweet! Though head gaskets arent nearly as involved on an older motor in an old car as in something new with a whole bunch of shit on top of the motor, it still saves you the trouble. FWIW I have never seen a bad head gasket that didnt blow bubbles in the radiator. Quick way to check, though not foolproof.

 

This company claims the thermostants if the fail will open.
http://www.motoradusa.com/news/20020630.html

 

They sell those at AutoZone. I almost got one, but decided that simple is better in this case and just went with a standard one and bought a spare for the toolbox in the trunk.

I am going to write Mr. Gasket and explain to them how much this little adventure a) actually cost me in multiple flush/drain/re-fill/change waterpump, etc. and b) how much it could have cost me if it had caused the head gaskets to blow. I'll even offer to send them the last one that failed. I was going to return it to O'Reily and get my money back, but I think I'd rather rub Mr. Gasket's nose in it instead!

 

Well speaking as a guy that put in a lot of years behind a auto/truck parts counter I got a saying!! " Just be cause it is new don't mean it is any f^^&kin good". And speaking of thermostats I'm not too pleased with what they are selling nowdays. The damm things don't open smoothly and stay a t a steady temp ,seem to over shoot bang open then slam shut. temp varies from 160 to 190 and this is a 180 stat. In a pan of hot water don't even start to open untill 185. And I have tried several different brands, same story.

 

cool... glad it was an easy fix.

now about those stats... we only use OEM stats at the shop, ford gets a gennie ford stat, same for a g.m., mercedes, street sweepers or anything we touch... no problems or comebacks e-v-e-r

look at it this way... is the $5-10 difference versus a cheap stat worth all the flippin' grief you just went through? (lemme guess where it was made)