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MGB MGB Thermostat Gasket

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kyreb1862

kyreb1862

Jedi Knight
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How come my local auto parts store has a thermostat for "Molly" but no gasket? Kid behind the counter says his computer says to use silicone. That has to be wrong. Tony you can get gaskets, right? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
You too can get gaskets, they have small rolls of material of differing thickness. Cut you own with a sharp knife or such.
 
I don't believe in using silicone, Permatex or anything else on an MG engine...you can make a gasket - just buy some gasket stock from trhe kid at the parts store...oh, have you seen the photo over on MGBE of the head the guy can't get the thermostat cover off? I just had one of those myself & whacked the thermo cover into little pieces & the part glued on with Permatex strill didn't want to come clear!
 
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& the part glued on with Permatex strill didn't want to come clear!

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Ouch.

Gasket material. Make your own. I've done it several times and its pretty easy. Use a SHARP knife and a metal straightedge or appropriately curved bottle/can as a guide.

Years and years ago I used the light cardboard from a telephone directory cover and it worked just fine until I sold the car and thereby qualified as a DPO.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif
 
I was going to go through my cooling system and I noticed that the thermostat housing has silcone peeping out from around the edges. I just hope its not glued down like the one Tony was talking about. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif
 
Silcone is used on all the new cars, no gaskets anymore but on the head and exhaust systems. comes off real easy.
 
Can you tell I hate the stuff....& remember: these are not NEW cars - they're 30+ years old..built with old technology & materials...&, if I'm not mistaken, they didn't use any of those "glues" at the factory....
 
I make mine using a small ball peen hammer and GENTLY tap around the edges to cut a new gasket.
 
A six ounce ball-pean, I call it th' "knobblin' hammer" ...and a "paper punch" (the kind the fourth grade teacher used to have in the drawer) works for the stud holes.
 
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Years and years ago I used the light cardboard from a telephone directory cover and it worked just fine until I sold the car and thereby qualified as a DPO.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Isn't that's what old phone books are for? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif You know, the card board in old shoe boxes work pretty good also. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif Oh well, enough of this high tech talk. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif PJ
 
Yep small hammer and a hole punch. Did not really want to approach that methoid, almost need to see it done one time first.
 
[ QUOTE ]
How come my local auto parts store has a thermostat for "Molly" but no gasket? Kid behind the counter says his computer says to use silicone. That has to be wrong. Tony you can get gaskets, right? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Because the tstat is the same as a small-block Chevy. For the gasket, get a roll of gasket paper and cut your own -- there's a template on my website.

HTH!
 
I've got technology on my side and used my laser at work. I probably spent $$$ in time making the file to have it cut but if I ever need another, the price goes down. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Just turn the t-stat housing upside down & use it as a template to make a new gasket.
 
Advance Auto always has a Felpro gasket here. It also fits some Nissans as I recall. BTW, out of curiosity, I asked for both a chevy thermostat and a MG thermostat the last time, and they charge more for it if they sell it as a MG part, so always ask for chevy.
 
Same part number on the thermostat?
 
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