For those of you that put a new pipe in your T'stat housing, where are you finding stock metal piping in a 5/8" OD size? Most of what I am finding is either stainless steel or copper tubing.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

On some engines that I have disassembled, they used a pipe nipple to replace that tubing. Probably a 3/8 pipe nipple. You can find that at a hardware store.

I have seen steel spacers at Lowes and Home Depot in the hardware area. If they have 5/8 od, that would work, too.

Any local metal place should be able to find something for you. They usually have a "drops" section where you can buy it by the pound which can save a lot of money, but that is only if what you need happens to be in the drops section.

You can find it online all day long, but it will be a little pricy, with shipping. I've use onlinemetals when I needed a real small quantity of something and didn't find it locally in the drops. if you have to have it cut, there is usually a cut charge or you can buy an uncut 20 or 24 foot piece. Shipping is usually cheaper than the cut charge or uncut piece.


Lawrenceville, GA

You can find it at McMasterCarr.com

Ive fixed a couple of them with a pipe nipple, 5/8 hose end which I got from a parts store. Get the old nipple completely out without scoring the housing. The size of the hole is just about the correct one for the 3/8 (I believe) NPT tap. Don't go down too far with the tap. Even though its self sealing pipe thread, use some type of sealer (Tape, etc.).



There usually are two types - one with a hex to tighten, the other with a no hex and a slot at the 5/8 end used to tighten. I usually use the latter as it is shorter to make it easier to get the hose on.

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

over here in the UK model engineering supplies are a good hunting ground for small quantities of small diam tube/stock etc

stuey

Federated Auto Parts stores carry (or can get) part # 84716 which is the "nippled" pipe that I use for repairing those T stat housings.

Its originally a 4 Seasons part which I believe is 4 Seasons part # FSP6

I use a little JB Weld smeared around the end of the pipe before I press the pipe in to prevent leaks.

Oldmics

What's wrong with stainless, that is what I use. More corrosion resistant.

Gary Ryan San Antonio.TX.

I have 5/8" gal plated tube here and fits perfectly, just a press fit into housing.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Thanks for all the replies... ordered a 3 foot tube from onlinemetals.com last night. Cheaper than I expected and a whole lot cheaper than stainless where I live. I'll take a "crack" at replacing my first one when the tube shows up later on this week, lol. Like the idea of JB weld with the fitment...sounds like a good idea.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Fellas, thanks again for your comments, and I could not help but say a special thanks to charlie for the lead about onlinemetals... it is already here at my door even when I used their lowest shipping option.

NICE

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com