defecater
Full Access Member
Previous owner told me that the truck never put out much heat in the winter, so i decided to change out the thermostat. After I pulled it apart, the first thing I noticed was a piece of some kind of copper/brass ring sitting in the cavity just below where the thermostat seats- the rest of the ring was wedged in the thermostat. Ring is slightly larger than the main body of the thermostat- where did it come from??
Also, the thermostat I got from the parts store (oReilleys) did not come with a gasket like was already on the engine, but instead has some kind of flimsy rubber ring surrounding the outer diameter. I stopped back at the store to inquire about a normal gasket, and they came up with a piece of gasket material that I am supposed to cut to shape myself, but the counter guy said that the thermostat with the sealing ring around it was all he has ever sold. I have no problem cutting my own gasket, as I normally cut most of my own anyway, but I am left a bit confused about this sealing ring- If there was at least some kind of a slight recess in the block or water neck housing, I would feel OK with using it, but I just cant see this thing compressing evenly or even holding itself centered where it is supposed to seat without a recess Should I try to use it, or just pitch it and cut my own gasket like I am thinking I should?? And then there is what appears to be some kind of small check ball in the water neck housing that comes out after I scraped off all of the old gasket. What is the significance of this check ball???
One last question- While all of this stuff is out of the way, would it be a good idea to change out the lift pump while it is easy to get to, or are they pretty much not an issue as far as longevity goes. Looks like a SBF fuel pump to me, although I bet it really isnt. Guess I should have asked while I was at the parts store earlier, but what does one typically cost??
Also, the thermostat I got from the parts store (oReilleys) did not come with a gasket like was already on the engine, but instead has some kind of flimsy rubber ring surrounding the outer diameter. I stopped back at the store to inquire about a normal gasket, and they came up with a piece of gasket material that I am supposed to cut to shape myself, but the counter guy said that the thermostat with the sealing ring around it was all he has ever sold. I have no problem cutting my own gasket, as I normally cut most of my own anyway, but I am left a bit confused about this sealing ring- If there was at least some kind of a slight recess in the block or water neck housing, I would feel OK with using it, but I just cant see this thing compressing evenly or even holding itself centered where it is supposed to seat without a recess Should I try to use it, or just pitch it and cut my own gasket like I am thinking I should?? And then there is what appears to be some kind of small check ball in the water neck housing that comes out after I scraped off all of the old gasket. What is the significance of this check ball???
One last question- While all of this stuff is out of the way, would it be a good idea to change out the lift pump while it is easy to get to, or are they pretty much not an issue as far as longevity goes. Looks like a SBF fuel pump to me, although I bet it really isnt. Guess I should have asked while I was at the parts store earlier, but what does one typically cost??
Originally there was a little ring not much thicker than gasket material , just slightly smaller diameter than the ball, holding it in. Might have to replace the waterneck.
that little critter lets trapped air in the system bleed off to the high point in the rad. It's the only way past the thermostat, but under pressure when running, it seals off the hole to prevent cold running. I believe they opted for that setup instead of putting a bleed port in the thermostat for better temperature control
