[Zmagnette] Zmagnette Digest, Vol 8, Issue 57

Steve Hanegan steve at betterwitnesses.com
Sat May 17 21:30:36 MDT 2014 

I second everything that Fletcher has said with a couple of alternative suggestions. I have found that giving the top of each stud a quick rap with about a 12 oz. ball peen hammer will help break the bond between the stud and the housing. Mind you, you don't want to bash it a good one, just a couple of quick firm raps, square to the top of the stud, to give a quick jolt to the stud. toIf you find that the thermostat housing is absolutely stuck beyond the penetrant, heat and soft hammer condition, remember that the studs are common with the MGA, readily available and inexpensive (though the housing is not!). Push come to shove, Sears sells a nifty set of stud extractors that look like a large nut with some reverse helix, steeply angled and sharp splines that grip the stud and allow a more "assertive" application of force to get the stud to release from both the housing and the threaded hole in the head. This does put paid to the top threads of the stud, so, be prepared with 3 new ones. I would recommend new nuts and washers as well.

Once you have the housing off, take a fairly smooth small round file and clean up the bores that the studs go through and make sure that the gasket surface is very clean and smooth. I have even put some 320 grit wet or dry abrasive paper on a plate of glass and lightly sanded the gasket surface flat where necessary. I then give the threaded holes in the head a quick chase with a 5/16-24 bottoming tap. I then ensure that the gasket surface around the thermostat opening is nice and clean, smooth and flat. Install the new studs with anti-sieze and re-assemble.

I have had very good luck with a gasket made of 1/8" thick cork, soaked in hot water for about 20 minutes. Tighten in stages and evenly - and not over-tight, no need for brute force here, the cork will conform to any surface irregularities and give a good seal as it dries. An old British mechanic friend took a "belt and braces" approach and gave the cork a very light smear on each side with a bit of grease just to be sure.

As Fletcher said, then give the studs a good coat of anti-sieze, and, in the next years or when you need to change a thermostat, you will appreciate the fruits of your labors as the whole thing comes back apart with ease and lack of "drama".

Steve H.


On May 17, 2014, at 12:53 PM, Fletcher Millmore <gofanu at cust.usachoice.net> wrote:

> Jon-
> The problem arises because water has seeped past the gasket and into the stud holes, causing corrosion. The corrosion products are bigger than the metal they start as, so form an expanding wedge against the studs - it has been known to split the housing.
> Remove all 3 nuts/washers.
> Penetrant into holes, which you will see are full of white stuff, if you are lucky not all 3!
> It is worth trying some heat from a propane torch on the housing, and tapping on the housing with a soft hammer.
> You will see if any of the studs are not in this condition.
> You can put nuts on the studs and tap sideways on them, to move each stud individually in the hole.
> You can double nut the studs and remove them, if they move, BUT:
> Do not remove more than one until you can move all 3; people sometimes get two out, with it still seized on the third, which is when they break the stud off in the head, or break the housing.
> If you get one out,. clean the stud and the hole, them put it back in until you work the others free.
> It sometimes takes quite a bit of this fiddling in bad cases.
> Patience and repetition are good - brute force is a disaster.
> 
> (I did have one epic case of a cast iron Spridget housing that had to be carved off with a chisel!)
> 
> Once you get it off, you will see that there is a very narrow edge that seals between the stud holes and the thermostat bore, and the housing is usually corroded here.
> All this is the result of poor gaskets, poorly fitted over the years.
> The Magnette housing is not common to many other cars in the US, so getting another is hard, and impossible for a new one.
> AND, the replacement gaskets are nowhere near the quality the OE were - and the OE were nearly always installed incorrectly and overtightened to failure point.
> SO, this is one of very few places I use LocTite Gasket eliminator or RTV silicon instead of a gasket. Use it sparingly, but pay attention to that narrow edge.
> Coat the studs with Anti-Seize compound before assembly.
> 
> FRM
> 
> On 5/17/2014 11:08 AM, Jon Marino wrote:
>> Hi folks,
>> 
>> Is there a trick to removing the elbow water outlet (thermostat housing, I
>> think) that's part of the cooling system? It just seems like it's stuck on
>> the engine permanently.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Jon M.
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: zmagnette-bounces at autox.team.net
>> [mailto:zmagnette-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of
>> zmagnette-request at autox.team.net
>> Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2014 6:51 AM
>> To: zmagnette at autox.team.net
>> Subject: Zmagnette Digest, Vol 8, Issue 57
>> 
>> Send Zmagnette mailing list submissions to
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>> Today's Topics:
>> 
>>    1. Re: Welcome to a new member (Allen Bachelder)
>>    2. Help (webuck1 at cox.net)
>>    3. Re: Welcome to a new member (Allen Bachelder)
>>    4. Re: Welcome to a new member (Allen Bachelder)
>> 
>> 
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> 
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Sat, 17 May 2014 09:40:22 -0400
>> From: Allen Bachelder <bachldrs at comcast.net>
>> To: List for the Z Magnette Group - North America
>> 	<zmagnette at autox.team.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Zmagnette] Welcome to a new member
>> Message-ID: <5CEFFE0C-5F01-4F84-BB5C-319BBBAE4AB5 at comcast.net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
>> 
>> Welcome Peter!  We've now welcomed two consecutive "Peters" to our
>> membership (which is now up to 115, BTW).  At any rate, for all the "Steves"
>> who own Magnettes, there is now some competition.
>> *********************************************
>> Allen & Florrie Bachelder
>> North Street, MI
>> bachldrs at comcast.net
>> *********************************************
>> 
>> 
>> On May 17, 2014, at 12:12 AM, Steve wrote:
>> 
>>> Please welcome Peter Ferrer to our Merry Magnettic Band.  Peter has a 58
>> ZB Varitone (that?s redundant, eh).  We been working together trying to
>> solve some wiring harness issues.
>>>  So, Chris K and Allen B . . . . is he in! or, is there something else I
>> need to do, like pay his lifetime membership fee in vintage headlight
>> bezels?
>>>  Welcome Peter,
>>>  #2SteveK
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Zmagnette mailing list
>>> 
>>> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
>>> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
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>>> 
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>> ------------------------------
>> 
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Fri, 16 May 2014 22:15:20 -0700
>> From: <webuck1 at cox.net>
>> To: zmagnette at autox.team.net
>> Subject: [Zmagnette] Help
>> Message-ID: <20140517011520.XK110.559284.imail at fed1rmwml303>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>> 
>> Hi Chris,
>> What ever you did, I can now open pictures and I don't see any scrubbed
>> html's. I actually opened the note from Allen and it opened with the
>> picture. The only change I see is that I don't have the address to reply to
>> the digest but otherwise 99% better. Thank, you for what you did. What did
>> you do? I am curious.
>> Buckey
>> webuck1 at cox.net
>> 
>> 
>> ------------------------------
>> 
>> Message: 3
>> Date: Sat, 17 May 2014 09:50:59 -0400
>> From: Allen Bachelder <bachldrs at comcast.net>
>> To: "'List for the Z Magnette Group - North America'"
>> 	<zmagnette at autox.team.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Zmagnette] Welcome to a new member
>> Message-ID: <C4C0FECF-3827-4E2F-AB76-97DB463C0484 at comcast.net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
>> 
>> I'm resending this from John Park as it was sent before Peter actually got
>> added.
>> 
>> - Allen
>> 
>> HI Peter,
>>             Welcome to our wonderfully knowledgeable and fun group!
>>             Regards,
>>             John 59 zbv
>>  From: zmagnette-bounces at autox.team.net
>> [mailto:zmagnette-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Steve
>> Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2014 12:13 AM
>> To: zmagnette at autox.team.net; Peter Ferrer
>> Subject: [Zmagnette] Welcome to a new member
>>  Please welcome Peter Ferrer to our Merry Magnettic Band.  Peter has a 58 ZB
>> Varitone (that?s redundant, eh).  We been working together trying to solve
>> some wiring harness issues.
>>  So, Chris K and Allen B . . . . is he in! or, is there something else I need
>> to do, like pay his lifetime membership fee in vintage headlight bezels?
>>  Welcome Peter,
>>  #2SteveK
>> _______________________________________________
>> Zmagnette mailing list
>> 
>> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
>> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
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>> Unsubscribe/Manage:
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>> ------------------------------
>> 
>> Message: 4
>> Date: Sat, 17 May 2014 09:52:06 -0400
>> From: Allen Bachelder <bachldrs at comcast.net>
>> To: List for the Z Magnette Group - North America
>> 	<zmagnette at autox.team.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Zmagnette] Welcome to a new member
>> Message-ID: <89D82BA5-D172-4B0B-B01A-840F211E2785 at comcast.net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
>> 
>> I'm resending this from Ed Sass as it was sent before Peter actually got
>> added to the list.
>> 
>> Welcome Peter!
>>  It is more fun than a barrel of monkeys.  And it is a barrel of monkeys!!
>>  Ed Sass
>> 58 Magnette
>>  Edward Sass
>> Technical Training Specialist
>> 
>> 	
>> accreditation. education. innovation.	ISO 9001:2008
>> 	
>> 
>> 9881 Broken Land Parkway | Suite 200 | Columbia, MD 21046 Phone (800)
>> 981-9883 | Fax (410) 381-8611
>> 		
>> www.cola.org		
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>> 2014 CRI? IQCP WORKSHOP SERIES AND SYMPOSIUM FOR CLINICAL LABORATORIES We
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>> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email and attachments may contain privileged
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>> notify us by return e-mail and delete. Thank you.
>> 
>> From: zmagnette-bounces at autox.team.net
>> [mailto:zmagnette-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Steve
>> Sent: Friday, May 16, 2014 11:13 PM
>> To: zmagnette at autox.team.net; Peter Ferrer
>> Subject: [Zmagnette] Welcome to a new member
>>  Please welcome Peter Ferrer to our Merry Magnettic Band.  Peter has a 58 ZB
>> Varitone (that?s redundant, eh).  We been working together trying to solve
>> some wiring harness issues.
>>  So, Chris K and Allen B . . . . is he in! or, is there something else I need
>> to do, like pay his lifetime membership fee in vintage headlight bezels?
>>  Welcome Peter,
>>  #2SteveK
>> _______________________________________________
>> Zmagnette mailing list
>> 
>> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
>> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
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>> ------------------------------
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
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>> 
>> End of Zmagnette Digest, Vol 8, Issue 57
>> ****************************************
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