Help converting to headers on a SBC
 

Hi. I have a 78 Sleekcraft with a GM 350 v8. It originally had cast iron manifolds, but I bought a pair of stellings jacketed headers for it. This means my water distribution block/thermostat housing is no longer correct.

Originally it had 6 outlets; 2 to go into the manifolds, with two returns, and two more to dump into the exhaust. I'm looking for just two outlets to go to the headers.

Help? I've seen crossover tubes for BBC that look like they'd work, but nothing for a SBC.

Okay do you guys know anything about this or not?

All that you need to do is get a Y or T fitting and connect the 2 hoses that went to the risers and manifolds together. Then run the combined hose to the bottom of the header.

Let me see if I can get some picts of my small block- Im not running headers, but a high end manifold and i think it's going to be relatively the same.


UD

That won't work with the Stellings. You have a wet joint between the manifold and riser to transfer water. He only has one place for water to enter the headers.

Fixx
 

this ia all you need,unless your not running a circulation pump..its works for sb and bb

http://www.marineengine.com/parts/pa...FYpV2godlTJ32w

That would be a cleaner install. I knew they made them, just wasn't sure if they were the same for SBC and BBC.

That thermostat housing looks nice, but I'm not sure how to make it work. On my current housing, the water inlet from the sterndrive pickup is on the starboard side at a downward angle. This comes from the power steering cooler mounted to the engine mount on the starboard side. This one has an inlet on the port side, straight sideways. How am I supposed to run a hose to this inlet?

help?

Fixx
 

This is a board of alot of information!! If your going to be a demanding like on other posts or posting comments then NOBODY WILL ANSWER.

ok every thermostat housing's water inlet is on the port side unless you decide to do away with the water pump and run a cross over on the front of the engine those take a special type of t-stat housing..the housing i posted will work on all n/a chevys..

All you need to do is get a longer hose and loop it under the engine and secure it to the front of the engine to keep it from rubbing on the belts..

Here's my existing thermostat housing:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3191181_n.jpg

I have a power steering cooler on the starboard side of the engine, which is inline with the water coming from the sterndrive and up into the thermostat housing from the starboard side.

It seems like MOST thermostat housing I am finding have the water intake on the starboard side. This stainless one looks great, apart from the which side has the water inlet, and I'm just wondering if I should

1. Keep looking, but so far nothing else looks like it'll work.

2. Reroute the direction of the water inlet by flipping the fitting on the gimbal housing, and then trying to mount the power steering cooler on the port side, then try to find a hose to use that stainless thermostat housing?

3. Keep the power steering cooler on the starboard side, and run a hose UNDER the engine up to the thermostat housing.

I'm totally lost here. Why is it that every single stock looking thermostat housing has the inlet on the starboard side... but the only aftermarket one for use with headers has an inlet on the port side? Doesn't make much sense.

The Stainless one is exactly like all the newer Merc MPI T stats housings.
http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_...SING+%26+HOSES

You can use that and reroute the hose or you can get some Y fittings made to connect the two hoses on each side together. Those are going to be the only options.

How do you not hit the alternator and stuff though? Seems like it would be in the way. Also, I tried reversing the fitting on the gimbal... no dice. I suppose I could run a huge long hose under the engine and come up on that side, but it's going to look like ****ing ass. Can somebody show me a properly setup marine engine with headers?

How would you run the hose with the alternator?

Fixx
 

First you need to get a 2 port housing,, then go from their..if you have room under the housing all you will need is a 135* hose to go under it then to your oil cooler and your done..

I would suggest going to ebasic power dot com and then looking through all their water inlet hoses that are the correct size find one for some other engine application that has a 180 bend (molded in) and a long run and run it to the starboard side. You must be diligent looking through all their hose offerings for all the different engines to find one with the right premade bends in it. Personally, I have NEVER seen a set up like you have stock.

I have to agree,,dont forget we are talking a boat from 1978 and going from the ols log style manifolds to stellings..the next issue is going to be the tail pipes going to the tips under the swim platform..

If you type in "thermostat housing" on ebay, and search for something that fits a GM V8, every single one looks a lot like my existing thermostat housing.

No, the headers go over transom. What I don't understand is how people did this back in the 70s. Tons of jet boats had headers, and I'm not sure how any of them made it work with the thermostat housings that comes with most engines.

Fixx
 

back in the day jet boats didnt have a waterpump on the engine,they use whats called a crossover that elinimated the waterpump,the jet pump fed the engine its water supply and dumped the excess through a pressure relief valve...http://eddiemarine.com/store/cart.ph...l&p=11551&c=40

then they changed the thermostat housing to a 2 port with a bypass in it so it couls keep the headers cool when you first start the engine untio the thermostat opened. http://eddiemarine.com/store/cart.ph...l&p=11561&c=52

so that thermostat housing i posted looks cheep now rite :)

Get it buy a 135* hose and go with it..

http://acehose.com/silicone-radiator-hoses.htm