MLT Lulu Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 PO put on a later style thermostat housing, and when I popped it off there's this lovely little cut out on the side of the head. That can't be right, can it? Assuming it's not right, can I get away with it like this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzimm Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 That's normal. I'd be more concerned with getting a good deal with the damage to the left side of the mating surface. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLT Lulu Posted April 29, 2020 Author Share Posted April 29, 2020 It looks pretty solid, though I'm a little curious why they would stamp numbers in a mounting surface like that. Is there something else you're referring to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZJeff Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 Clean the gasket surface with a rotary sand disk or a rotary Scotchbrite pad. Then use a straightedge to check for any raised surfaces where the numbers are stampeD. If there are, dress them down CAREFULLY with a file. Use blue RTV sealant on the gasket on both sides when reinstalling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLT Lulu Posted April 30, 2020 Author Share Posted April 30, 2020 Thanks, all. It's back together. That cut out looks like some BS though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzimm Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 I didn't realize those were stamped numbers, just looked like damage. As long as it seals you are good. That cutout is on every 4.0 I've ever seen. The are slightly different designs on the thermostat housing itself but as far as I know they all work the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 That little cutout feeds coolant to your heater core via the hose connection on the thermostat housing/water neck. It's normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omega_rugal Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 4 hours ago, mjeff87 said: That little cutout feeds coolant to your heater core via the hose connection on the thermostat housing/water neck. It's normal. yep, otherwise there won´t be any coolant flowing to the heater core until the thermostat is fully open... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLT Lulu Posted May 1, 2020 Author Share Posted May 1, 2020 5 hours ago, mjeff87 said: That little cutout feeds coolant to your heater core via the hose connection on the thermostat housing/water neck. It's normal. After a little looking I saw that. But it was a later style thermostat housing than the truck would have come with. Never having seen the cutout before (1st 4.0 I've worked on) I thought they may have modified the head to make the TH work on it. Glad they didn't. 22 hours ago, Dzimm said: I didn't realize those were stamped numbers, just looked like damage. As long as it seals you are good. That cutout is on every 4.0 I've ever seen. The are slightly different designs on the thermostat housing itself but as far as I know they all work the same. Definitely #s. There was also a bit of writing in paint pen on the head, so may not be original? Sure I'll find out in time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzimm Posted May 1, 2020 Share Posted May 1, 2020 1 hour ago, MLT Lulu said: Definitely #s. There was also a bit of writing in paint pen on the head, so may not be original? Sure I'll find out in time. More than likely a junkyard replacement then. Not necessarily a bad thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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