Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,162 Posts1,056,917 Members48,458 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 100 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 100 | Checked in the shop manual and cannot find an answer...
Is there a torque setting for tightening the two bolts on the thermostat housing after replacing both the thermostat and a new seal? | | | | | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 2,074 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 2,074 | Most old shop manuals have torque specs and or a chart covering a general torque per size of bolt. I wouldn't be to concerned with torque on this part, just use some gasket sealer and make them tight with a not to long wrench. Also put some thread sealer on these bolt that go into water passage. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | Torque specs for the most part are not in the repair manual. That frustrates me as well. Sound advise above. Use gasket sealer and get'em good & snug. I don't think I've ever used a torque spec on a thermostat housing.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | Thermostat housing bolts/screws: 25-35 ft-lbs From 1960 Truck Shop Manual, Engine Section on-line | | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 100 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 100 | Thanks all...I appreciate the knowledgeable replies both past and future.
Tim
I found the 25-35 Ft pds information in a section for Chevy small blocks. I wonder if that can be applied to an older 216 stove bolt with cast iron thermostat housing? | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | Thanks all...
.
I found the 25-35 Ft pds information in a section for Chevy small blocks. I wonder if that can be applied to an older 216 stove bolt with cast iron thermostat housing? That is the same type of housing used in 1960 - the year of the sheet that I posted a link-to, above. Here is the torque-specs page. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,299 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,299 | Grandpa always said to "stop tightening well before it starts getting looser". But then he also was known to say, "tighten it as tight as you can, plus 1/4 turn".
25-35# sounds right to me.
Carl
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 3,399 Gas Pumper | | Gas Pumper Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 3,399 | My Grandpa always said "Don't take any wooden nickels". I have NO idea, but I just use my 25-30# calibrated hand. But the specs are very handy to have for a really well done engine.
That is the WHOLE reason why I go strictly by the specs using my $9.95 Harbor Freight Torque Wrench! LOL! | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | Do not underestimate that HF torque wrench. Several years ago, I found an auto-engineering website that checked the calibration of a newly-calibrated Snap-On torque-wrench against a newly bought HF torque wrench. The HF wrench was as close to the correct torque (over a range of torques) as was the Snap-On wrench.
I did own test comparison with a friend's newly calibrated torque wrench compared to my never calibrated (but, rarely used) HF torque wrench. My wrench was +/- within 5% of the Snap-On wrench (over a range torque settings.
I tighten to the specs, if I have them. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 100 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 100 | | | |
|
|
