Joe wrote:thermostat great idea however the housing?...do those go bad as well?
Joe
They are like a $12 part. I'd rather spend the $12 than having to clean it, not to mention in the several (yes about 5+ other XJ/MJ's) that I've had and changed t-stats on, 80% of them cracked when I torque them down to spec using the old housings.
Since than, I've just bought a new housing for the $12 and not worried about it.
while you're at it smooth the tstat housing (kinda like the hesco unit but a lot cheaper) with a dremel tool. Don't get carried away. I have read that their water pumps are great too.
Water pump install complete!... Took Lead Not Follow's advice and replaced thermostat and housing as well. The hardest part for me was figuring out how to get the belt off...I know go ahead and laugh..I'm just used to finding the tensioner and pulling it that way...once I figured it out i find this setup is much easier.
Water pump I purchased brand new from Napa seems well constructed Housing from speedway auto felt cheap, and lighter then the original.. works fine nonetheless.
Temp guage always read 210-211 now it remains a tick below 210..cant get it to go over..
Hey Joe, how about a writeup? It'd help us as a community. And don't forget that there's noobs around, so remember to let them know how to remove a belt that doesn't have a tensioner pulley! We all thank you ahead of time for doing this, so we don't have to explain it to the noobs every time they ask. Keep on Jeepin! -Matt
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My Fleet 1996 XJ "Snowball"- 3.5" lift, bunch of little mods. I hate pegleg rear axles! 1974 AMC Javelin "Jade Grenade"- 360v8, 4sp, green inside and out. Underfunded Project. 2009 Kawsaki Vulan 900 "Rocket III"- Summer DD