I'm about done putting my engine together and was looking at some cooling parts I had laying around and got to thinking. What I want to know is can I put everything together this way???




Pretty much a spacer less reroute where I just put the thermostat in the back of the head and the waterneck over it like pictured then removed the temp sensor from the water neck and place it below the other one on the head? This means I could sell my spacer I ordered and don't have to find a kia waterneck in the junkyard. I could always put the sensor in the piping somewhere as well if that poses a problem. Forgot to add I don't have a heat core and flipped the water pump outlet around like Lev did

 

Spacerless re-routes have been done before, nothining wrong with em.

couple things: if you put the water temp sensor into the piping (I assume you meant the hose) it will mess up the way your car runs before the stat opens.

also you got the stat in there clocked wrong I think. The burp hole needs to be at the top.

 

Ok I'll try and put the temp sensor in the head under the other one then. I just put the stat in there wasn't trying to bolt anything up yet but I'll keep that in mind when I'm ready thanks

 

The heater core circuit serves an essential purpose, even if you have no heater core. It provides for circulation through the engine even while the thermostat is closed.

 

I'm doing this exact thing (although keeping the heater core). I'm drilling and tapping that port you have your finger on for the temp sensor, using the front water neck with a cut off bolt blocking it off for the rear water neck, freeze plugging the front water port.

 

I milled my 1.6 neck flat to the point where the face mill nicked the lip for the hose on top (no leakage issue btw) and had a 1/8" aluminum plate welded on, and it barely fits between the engine and firewall. Might want to double check that there is enough clearance.

Another thing for Anton and Johnmatt. I don't know if either of you have done freeze plugs before, but if not, here's a few tips. Use silicone for an even better seal, at minimum use a 5lb sledge hammer, and I used a socket that filled the plug and then an extension coming out of it. This was with the engine in the car and radiator out.

 

Thanks for the tips. Both of those are things that I was uncertain about. I'll have to find someone that can do a quick aluminum welding job tomorrow or monday.

 

Scratch that though. I was using a spacer. A bolt will still give you plenty of room.

 

How about drilling a small hole or two in the thermo? I've heard of it being done on other vehicles and was wondering if it would serve a purpose on our cars