63 RIV MOE Posted April 6, 2022 Share Posted April 6, 2022 I'm having trouble finding the correct gasket for the thermostat housing on my 63 Riviera 401. 3" OD, 2-1/4" ID, 3-1/8" between hole centers. Thanks guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted April 6, 2022 Share Posted April 6, 2022 Make one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted April 6, 2022 Share Posted April 6, 2022 DO NOT USE A GASKET! Buy a tube of Permatex "The Right Stuff" and make a bead around the circumference of the thermostat hole and around the bolt holes and bolt the housing down. It will never ever leak, unlike regular fiber thermostat gaskets which almost always seep coolant. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted April 6, 2022 Share Posted April 6, 2022 Take yours into your local jobber and match your old one to something new. If I remember correctly, the last one that I bought was for a 390 Ford. I’m sure that CARS or Classic Buicks would have one as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Cannon Posted April 6, 2022 Share Posted April 6, 2022 https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=100634&jsn=439 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted April 6, 2022 Share Posted April 6, 2022 There’s a Gates part number in Jim’s post. Start calling your local jobbers and see what they have or what they can get from their warehouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 That Rock Auto one is not correct as it's a universal gasket that will either leak or break the ears off the thermostat housing IF tightened too aggressively. In the Felpro rebuild gasket sets have the correct ones. I'll have to see IF I can find a part number. Tom T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1965rivgs Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 I have been using The Right Stuff for years on intake manifold ends to block sealing, etc...and it is a great product. One of its advantages is that there is no setup time. Wherever one uses it, the vehicle can be used immediately...so it is great for shops, fleet work, etc. But I dont like to use any kind of gasket maker on cooling system components because it has the potential to "squeeze in" to the cooling system. I have often found significantly large chunks of gasket maker damned up around thermostats, etc. If there is a gasket readily available I usually use the gasket with a very thin smear of sealer. Every tech has his/her preference, especially when it comes to sealers, but that`s just mine. Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Cannon Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 2 hours ago, telriv said: That Rock Auto one is not correct as it's a universal gasket that will either leak or break the ears off the thermostat housing IF tightened too aggressively. In the Felpro rebuild gasket sets have the correct ones. I'll have to see IF I can find a part number. Tom T. OK, then: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=120543&jsn=9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 Fel Pro 35063 - $3.99 at your local Advance Auto. In stock at my local store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeJS Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 1 hour ago, RivNut said: Fel Pro 35063 Good day. Outta curiosity, on the FelPro website, there is a note (Additional Fit Criteria) that the inside diameter is 2-1/2" yet the OP indicates 2-1/4" ID. Does that make a difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71GS Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 Just FYI, bestoffercounts has the correct original shaped ones. The one above certainly works but sticks out from the housing unless you trim it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71GS Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 http://bestoffercounts.com/product/buick-nailhead-water-manifold-crossover-gasket-set-264-322-364-401-425-1953-1966/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XframeFX Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 Brian, finally the correct gasket. There's probably a Mahle or some manufacturer P/N on it. But no way a local auto parts jobber will have them in stock. This and many other "consumable parts", have to be ordered or online purchase. What a hassle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71GS Posted April 18, 2022 Share Posted April 18, 2022 Yeah but he ships fast. I had it in a few days. Much better than the generic blue one hanging out past the housing 👍I was happy to find it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XframeFX Posted April 18, 2022 Share Posted April 18, 2022 43 minutes ago, 71GS said: Yeah but he ships fast. I had it in a few days. If you remember, I'm in northern Canada. I despise X-Border shopping contributing to multiple salaries with all those hardship fees. I did have thermostat gaskets thrown-in with my last CARS order this year. I know I'll have to order from south-of-the-border for a correct mechanical fuel pump. Doesn't have to be OE but that's the only way to go for correct fittings. Multiple flavours of fuel pumps for SBC from Summit.☹️ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted April 18, 2022 Share Posted April 18, 2022 Buy a SBC pump & change the arm. Now you have a Pandora's box full of options. Tom T. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71GS Posted April 18, 2022 Share Posted April 18, 2022 19 hours ago, XframeFX said: 20 hours ago, 71GS said: If you remember, I'm in northern Canada Oh yeah, didn’t think about that. We love going up there. Haven’t been since the pandemic started but hopefully this will be the year. ✌🏻 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XframeFX Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 3 hours ago, 71GS said: Oh yeah, didn’t think about that. We love going up there. Haven’t been since the pandemic started but hopefully this will be the year. I'm going with a convoy down to Syracuse Natn'ls mid July. Riv staying in the west. 6 hours ago, telriv said: Buy a SBC pump & change the arm. TX, I considered that. But what lengths do we have to go to? A SBC Delphi MF0190 w/dual 3/8" NPT ports and a roll pin for a pivot: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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