i had a run of bad luck with my 76 dodge dart and was wondering when dodge went to using aluminum and also what dammage could have been done by the temp going to about 235 degrees? i have already replaced all the hoses, hose clamps, thermostst housing gasket. i know this is a bad thing to do but i had the fan belt jump the pulley in rush hour traffic. the head gasket is fine but i am leaking coolant from a couple of places.

I've seen aluminum intakes, aluminum tranny cases and tailshaft housings, aluminum steering boxes, aluminum bumper reinforcements, aluminum webbing under the hood and deck lids..... what a minute!??!?! That sure describes a Feather Duster or Dart Lite don't it? Oh wait, aluminum water pump housings...

Over the years mopar has saved weight in many areas by substituting aluminum for heavy cast iron boat anchor components.

Where are you leaking coolant at?

When this last happened to me, I replaced the thermostat and gasket, hoses, and the heater core too....


'zoinks'

-D.Idiot

i have coolant leaking out of the thermostat housing gasket and mabey the water pump gasket

Most of the factory Thermostat covers were diecast aluminium, the aftermarket replacements were mostly cast iron.
If you go to the parts store and order a replacment cover, there is a high chance it will be cast iron.
DD

i only needed the gasket. the thermostat cover is fine

Make sure the thermostat housing is flat. If it isn't you will never get it to seal. When ever I change a thermostat I take the housing put it gasket side down on the pavement, concrete of course and rub it back and forth a couple of times. You will usually find that the area between the bolt holes is high. This is caused by over tightening the bolts. Next I just rub the housing back and forth till all of the gasket surface is nice and shiny. That flattens the gasket surface out real nice. Also make sure the surface on the head is nice and clean. No gasket material left or dirt. You may have to use some emery cloth to clean it up. After you do that put some grease on the gasket and put it all back together and you should be good to go. Nice thing about using grease to seal a gasket like the thermostat or water pump is if you ever have to take it apart again you can usually just peel the gasket off clean things up and put it back together again. I have even reused thermostat gaskets and water pump gaskets in a pinch doing this.

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Former bent 6 owner
Mark

i got it back together and everything is sealed. i am still babying the car but it seems to be doing great.