Thermostat installation?

[1955CJ-5]

I looked in the manual, but couldn't find a good picture....

So, does the thermostat sit on the head, with the spacer inside the housing?

Or, do you put the thermostat in the housing and then push in the spacer?

As it is right now the spacer is thoroughly stuck in the housing and the thermostat was sitting on the head...

Thanks,

Randy

[Bob W]

The thermostat goes up into the housing and the spacer goes in next, holding the thermostat up there. If you take a look at an original thermostat you will see why this was necessary. The temperature "sensing" portion was too large to fit in the head.

[Ryan_M]

This should help.

[1955CJ-5]

Thanks for the help Bob and Ryan, I guess I've never seen an original thermostat...

The modern thermostats are much shorter of course, and the spacer is much taller....so I'm going to have to figure out a way to get that spacer out of the housing....I haven't really tried yet so it might just pull out with a little encouragement...

I've read this somewhere but have forgotten...should I get a 160 degree or 180 degree thermostat?  I think I've seen 180's recommended..

[Jesse]

If you have a heater I would recommend a 180 with 2 or 3 small holes drilled in the base flange. This lets the valve get some hot water to pre heat rather than the engine heating way up and then opening the valve and dropping off. 

[gmcjr]

Go with the 180 degree thermostat, like Jeese said it would work better with a heater, and also, its better for your oil. The oil gets a little hotter to burn away mositure and such faster. The only reason for a 160 degree thermostat was for the use of old alcohol based antifreezes. The alcohol would boil away at temps higher than 160 degrees. I dont have any holes drilled in mine , but it sounds like it might be a good idea.

[1955CJ-5]

A 180 with holes sounds like the way to go..

The machinist recommended running the engine initially without a thermostat at all, just so the first warm up or two would be at a constant rate and there would be no trapped air bubbles...no anti freeze either at first..just in case there is a leak there wouldn't be quite as big a mess....

[1955CJ-5]

We were able to get the sleeve out of the housing without too much trouble. It appears to be made of brass.

This sleeve was installed with the tapered end towards the head and there is no flange on the opposite end. Is that correct?

The above drawing shows it installed differently....