1990 Crown Vic thermostat housing leaking

[BoomBoom2006]

I just changed the thermostat on a friends 90 Crown Victoria 5.0 and I can't seem to get it right. The original thermostat seemed to fit much better. I have taken it apart several times because it leaks everytime I put it together. I kind of have a rough time getting the thermostat to stay in place while I tighten the bolts down. I just can't figure out why it keeps leaking out around the thermostat. Any help would be appriciated. Thanks

[way2old]

If I remember correctly, the thermostat will twist in the housing and stay locked in place for you.

[BoomBoom2006]

Thanks, I ended up going to the local Ford dealership and the tech told me that he's had similar problems. He told me to get some High Tack and put it on the gasket and the thermostat to hold it in place. It worked great wish I had know it the first four trys. I also used the Ford OEM gasket instead of the one from Advance Auto because it was thicker.

[rhandwor]

Originally Posted by BoomBoom2006

Thanks, I ended up going to the local Ford dealership and the tech told me that he's had similar problems. He told me to get some High Tack and put it on the gasket and the thermostat to hold it in place. It worked great wish I had know it the first four trys. I also used the Ford OEM gasket instead of the one from Advance Auto because it was thicker.

Ford used to machine the space for the thermostat in the housing instead the intake manifold. This allowed the thermostat to move and the housing would set on the edge of the thermostat. I cracked the housing on the first one I did the radiator shop told me to do it the way you did it.
As previously noted Ford original equipment had tabs to hold it in place but aftermarket thermostats didn't.