View Full Version : Powder Coat Thermostat Housing Water Neck?
I've had some issues trying to get the chrome water neck to seal on my new intake, so I ordered a Ford Racing part #FOZE 8594 AA cast aluminum neck. Well, I'm sure it will function just fine, but it's ugly! Does anyone think that powder coating it will be a problem as long as I don't coat the areas that the hoses connect to or the mounting surface?
Bob Cowan
06-15-2022, 09:35 PM
Not a problem. Go ahead and do it. You can even PC the hose mating surfaces, they won't leak. I doubt the gasket surfaces would be harmed by PC, either.
Not a problem. Go ahead and do it. You can even PC the hose mating surfaces, they won't leak. I doubt the gasket surfaces would be harmed by PC, either.
Thanks, Bob. I assumed it would be okay, but a second opinion is always appreciated.
Dave
rthomas98
06-16-2022, 08:52 AM
I am very interested in how well this works. My Blueprint engine came with the cast aluminum thermostat housing (guessing from reported issues like what you had). I haven't been thrilled with how it looks. Been debating to spray it with engine enamel to match the block. But Powder coating seems interesting. I will be watching this one.
Rdone585
06-16-2022, 11:17 AM
Powder coating hasn't been an issue with mine. It was done by the engine builder. He did both the intake and thermostat housing in black because "they will dissipate heat better".
168159
JohnK
06-16-2022, 12:08 PM
Color makes no difference in conductive heat transfer. Feel free to PC them whichever color you like.
FF33rod
06-16-2022, 04:05 PM
I did the same thing - powder coated the Ford cast part (and did it for the very same reason)...
No issues at all.
Steve
nucjd19
06-16-2022, 07:46 PM
Dave you have me paranoid with mine on my BPE. Gonna keep an eye on it and if needed go the same route. I have powder coated chrome and it has turned out very well on other parts so far.
Dave you have me paranoid with mine on my BPE. Gonna keep an eye on it and if needed go the same route. I have powder coated chrome and it has turned out very well on other parts so far.
Mine never leaked until I installed the new intake and tried to reuse the one from BPE. I'm sure there is some trick that I don't know about. The seal that was on the housing from BPE was pretty thick and sort of tar-like. I have some Chrome powder that I used on my side louvres. I may just go plain silver. First I need to drill and tap the boss for the coolant temp sensor.
Before you take a trip to the powder coat shop, lay a straight edge across the seal surface of the new thermostat housing. Make sure it is flat before you invest in the powder coat.
Before you take a trip to the powder coat shop, lay a straight edge across the seal surface of the new thermostat housing. Make sure it is flat before you invest in the powder coat.
I will definitely check it. I do my own PC for small parts -- saves a ton of money vs. taking stuff in with minimum charges most places require.
jab351w
06-17-2022, 12:07 PM
Mine never leaked until I installed the new intake and tried to reuse the one from BPE. I'm sure there is some trick that I don't know about. The seal that was on the housing from BPE was pretty thick and sort of tar-like. I have some Chrome powder that I used on my side louvres. I may just go plain silver. First I need to drill and tap the boss for the coolant temp sensor.
TLDR: Quality control for aftermarket water necks (and other parts) isn't great. The Ford part you bought won't leak.
When I got my car the aftermarket water neck was leaking. After removing it and finding a lot (like half of a tube) of silicone on the mating surfaces, I decided to replace it with another cheap one from the parts store. When held up to the manifold (without a gasket) you could see daylight between the bypass hole in the cheap replacement and the side of the manifold. Granted this may be due to tolerance stackup between the water neck and manifold, since neither is a factory part, but either way the new neck was likely going to leak just like the old one did. Returned it, bought and installed the real Ford part, everything lines up properly, and no leaks.
Your BPE-supplied neck may not have leaked with your old manifold due to differences in the casting thickness between the old and new manifolds, especially around the bypass hole. Everything should line up better with the Ford part.
Blitzboy54
06-17-2022, 12:38 PM
I did it but used PC tape to leave the op of the neck uncoated theoretically to help the hose grab. I have had no issues.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=149721&d=1624232403
Here it is tapped for the temp sensor and fresh out of the oven:
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=168229&d=1655500690
Geoff H
06-17-2022, 06:44 PM
Great work! Turned out really nice.
nucjd19
06-17-2022, 09:03 PM
Wow Dave! That is really nice job on the powder coat. Can't wait to see it after install.
Looks great! You definitely got the powder coat process down.
Jeff
Thanks. Unfortunately I didn't get the same result tapping the threads for the temp sensor and I have to order a new neck. I'm not going to tap the new one. I'll use the heater port on the intake for the sensor.