I can't find the thread, but somebody recently asked about stock vs. aftermarket waternecks. Most of you know I asked about this a few months ago myself. See pic below:


After ordering this spiffy chrome waterneck, Quenton taked to me over the phone and forced me to stick with the original waterneck. He was right, of course, and now I have the chrome piece added to the junk box.
The chrome piece is on Ebay all the time and its angle is right for a big-block Pontiac, and adjustable as well. Uses ring-rubber-seal and works fine. At least.......it did till Q made me feel bad and talked me into using original waterneck. :rolleyes:

What are you asking for the water neck. Shipped to 53944?

John , I had mine painted blue also ( after changing it from the bright YELLOW former owner had painted the whole engine), but at Christmas when I had my last work done to the engine , new heads and a new intake (Edlebrock Performer) I thought it looked kind of funny w that blue neck on the alum. intake so the blue paint was ground off and I polished up the neck.....

That was me asking about the stat housing a couple of days ago. My car came with the wrong neck - then again, it came with the wrong everything. I've since ordered one from Ames.

- jake

mhadac, to be honest the bolts went into this chrome waterneck slightly canted, and the only reason it didn't leak was because of ALOT of sealant. It may not have held under extreme duress, which is the way I normally drive. Would not even think of selling this due to that possibility. Its shiny junk on the shelf now, probably fits a small block Chevy or something just fine.
Subsequently found out the local NAPA dealer has the right one (chrome) right down the street, and I waited all that time for an Ebay seller to send it!

I've been looking for a quality billet aluminum water neck for my 455HO.

I like the brushed aluminum but could settle for something anodized. Any tips....

Nice lookin' 455. I have searched high and low for a correct aluminum stat housing. No luck. I've gone through about 50 vendors and they all tell me the same thing. "No one makes one."

I bought a cast iron housing from Ames and began the tedious process of sanding it down smooth. When it looks good enough (and it almost does now) I'll paint it to match the color of the intake.

- Jake

jagarang, that is one sweet looking block!!
Would you consider using an original waterneck and then painting it grey or block-blue?
I think it would look fine, and preserve your paint scheme. The original waternecks can be found, though maybe a bit chipped.
You know "Jagar" is German for HUNTER, though sometimes spelled slightly different.

jagarang , use an original, clean off the paint , polish up and spray w 'clear'....
my 0.02

I have an aluminum water neck, but it's not the correct angle for a Firebird. I have no idea where it came from. (I got it with one of my manifolds.) The problem I see is that the flange is thin - too thin! I can see this thing having all kinds of trouble staying sealed.

I bet the Pontiac dude in Florida has something available in Aluminum. If there is a demand for a billet aluminum version of the neck that runs the hose around the back side of the alternator, I might be tempted to have a batch made to a design I have.

Q

I think I'll be putting a Milodon high volume alum. water pump and a Stewart Components high flow thermostat in/on there as well. I think the alum. water pump with look good in the center of all that blue, help break it up a bit and tie the top components in with the front of the block. Some more pics if your interested..



Any body know what the dimensions of a Pontiac T-Stat are?
Are all GM thermostats for first and early second gen motors the same dimensions?

TTT

Questions under the last picture?
What about these..

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=1064&prmenbr=361

And these....
http://www.csiperformance.com/cooling_4.html

The two bolts on a CHEVY waterneck are spaced differently than the two bolts on a PONTIAC waterneck. I know this for a FACT. They might use the same thermostat, but the thermostat housing dimensions are different.

The Pontiac one is the only one that will fit.

Q

I guess that I need to go back to already answered posts! Dude! Bada$$ engine! Makes the drool drip from the mouth.