I read in a tech article where it said to cut the front tab off of the t-stat mount or something. This was the tap where goes into the engine part. They said if you cut this tab off you can then change t-stats without having the whole front of the motor pulled apart. I was thinking of having this done when my pleneum gasket gets changed.

Are there any downsides to this? Any reason not to do it or is it a 100% safe thing? I don't want problems later on but it would be nice to easily swap t-stats. How hard is it to swap them if you do cut this off? Thanks.

 

its 100% safe and a approved... grind that tab off all it says is FRONT so you dont install it backwards... makes changing the t-stat hell of a lot easier..

 

I have mine cut off, but in my opinion it will only really helps speed up a t-stat change if you don't have to clean up the gasket surface (which you almost always have to do). If there is old gasket material on the intake manifold surface, you will still need to remove at least the AC compressor and maybe still the accessory bracket (which means altenator too) so that you can thouroughly clean the surface. Otherwise, your new t-stat install could have leaks. Removing that stuff is really easy though.

 

the first 3 to 4 times I changed out thermostats on my 1995
I did it the 'down the hole' method.

on about the 3rd time I ground off the tab.

The last time I did a thermostat swap
I did it exactly like the FSM calls for
and even though you remove 13 bolts from the accessory bracket
it goes just as fast as the 'down the hole' method
...and you can inspect the bypass hose much easier.

buy the latest gasket design for the thermostat from the Dodge dealership
and this smear on a 'cigarette paper thin' coating of blue rtv
and after torquing everything down
let the blue rtv set up overnight
before starting the engine.

 

Which makes no sense because it's symmetrical.

 

I think the same as you, but I've been burned before by installing something backwards just because it looks the same. Maybe they added the tab so the installer at the factory knew how to hold it. Maybe it is off a millimeter. I ground mine off and cut a very small v-notch in the neck on the front side. Just makes it easier for me.

 

Hmmm. I'm pulling mine this weekend to verify my t-stat is installed properly so I can determine why my truck is always running hot.

 

Did mine a couple ofmonths ago. Took my time, made sure l removed allthe old gasket material. Ialso had to buy a new"gooseneck" thermostat housing 'cause mine was all rusty. Actually rusted off - there were chunks missing from it. $10 from the dealer, not bad. I also let the RTV set up over night before I started it and added Prestone. I did not grind off the "front" tab. It really wasn't hard to put back together, not sure if it would have been easier without the tab. I also used a 180 degree thermostat.

 

Dumb me. I just pulled my t-stat this past weekend and reviewed the location where the FRONT tab was ground off. The FRONT tab is there to indicate to the installed that the the neck is sloped slightly forward.

And yes, it makes a difference, as the last time I installed it the upper rad hose was rubbing the bracket that holds the alternator to the intake. [:@]