Hey guys,

This is more the check with you guys then anything else since I already installed the thermostat anyway. But I went ahead and got one of the NAPA#6 170 degree thermostats that seem to be highly recommended on this forum. When I went to install it today though I ran into one hitch, there was a jiggle-pin kind of check-ball valve in the body of the stat. Thing is it was situated so far outwords on the lip of the stat that the actual thermostat housing was pressed up against the pin when it was seated into it. The pin would be pushed inwards at like a 45-degree angle and unable to move.

I thought about trying to remove the pin, but there wasn't any real way to get it out even with tools, it's well made. So I figured I'd go ahead and install it like it is. It's pushing the jiggle-pin over and locking it up but it's not stopping the stat from seating properly. The old thermostat I had didn't even have any bypass hole or valve at all so I figured all would be fine.

Have you guys ran into this with those thermostats? Should there be any concern about that?

Just so happens that I got the top on my 312 off.  I checked the thermostat housing and I have a little indentation where the juggle pins goes.  Double check the housing for the indentation.



54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Mine has that too, though I always thought it was kind of a 'key' that went with thermostats of the time so you could make sure you put it in right. But if it is for that, doesn't matter because I have it in that indentation and it's still wedged.

There is enough room in mine so that the pin still "jiggles".





54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Doesn't seem to matter, as I was filling the system today I heard a dripping from the thermostat housing. It was really unnerving to be honst I kept checking the valley pan for pooling coolant leaking out somewhere. But there was nothing and it was probably coolant dripping through that jiggle-hole as it stopped once the system got full enough.

On a good news side, the car isn't running too hot anymore, needle stays right about in the middle to upper middle all the time now.