Is this a correct 3837223 thermostat for a 59 Corvette?:
[/IMG]
[/IMG]
-
-
Re: 3837223 Thermostat
Woops.
-
Re: 3837223 Thermostat *NM*
Comment
-
Re: 3837223 Thermostat
Loren,
The thermostat housing you should use has the number 3837223 in LARGE letters cast into the front flange on the base that mounts to the manifold (opposite the neck so that it is easy to see). These numbers take up almost the entire width of this flange. You have a picture showing this in the link you provided.
DaveComment
-
Re: 3837223 Thermostat
Loren, A misconception seems to be that a 59-62 thermostat housing or top water outlet is recognized by the fact that it has the '233 in large letters and that it is has a smooth casting. No seam. Hard to explain but most think there was only one design of this outlet. One that is correct. But in fact that isn't so. There are at least two varations of this outlet. Either one would be correct. A typicaly late 57 and all of 58 water outlet has a seem going up the center of it. It also has a casting number on the side of it. 3837223. Well this outlet is also correct for the '59 to 62 also. Many years ago there was an article in "The Restorer" about these outlets. It was a nice article but it was incomplete.
Dale Pearman taught me many years ago about the water outlets. He was a firm believer that the top outlet for late 57 to 62 could all be the same style. I wasn't sure of his information. Not that I doubted him but I hate to go against the flow for fear someone will loose points. But since Dale preached this to me and others I have seen a lot of unrestored units with the seamed water outlets. I am referring to 59 to 62 FI units.
Another thought is that a typical 59 to 62 outlet with the small letters is just a SR part. But that info is out to lunch yet. There may in fact have been some cars that came down the assembly line with an outlet with the small letters. But I have no documentation to prove this. The over the counter replacement outlets had the small characters. JDComment
-
Re: 3837223 Thermostat
Correction: I failed to look at your link. Wonderful job you did Loren. The seamed outlet is pictured in your link.Comment
-
Re: 3837223 Thermostat Housing
Thanks, John & Dave. The first picture I posted is one that is currently for sale on ebay, which I was thinking about bidding on, because the old restorer article shows it as a "second design", correct for "mid 57 to maybe late 60." But the one the article refers to as the "third design", the one Dave refers to as correct, is also the one the TIMJG refers to as correct for 59. The article's "first design" housing looks like the seamed one John mentions.Comment
-
Re: 3837223 Thermostat Housing
Loren, I should be looking at your pics to post a response. THe outlet with the least amount of slack would be the one with the big letters and no seam. Also no GM on it as that is for a 348-409 steel chevy. Gary on ebay-forgot his last name sells those a lot and he told me that one with the round indent or circle with GM around it is for the Chevy. Maybe others on this forum known other info.
Now Dale Pearman would use the seamed water outlet for sure. But if you don't want to raise a flag with the novice judge then put on the usual. Big letters and smooth castings. JohnComment
Comment