Making your own Thermostat gasket

[Deleted]

So Its a nice Saturday afternoon and you want to go Jeep'in but you need to install a new t stat, and your at your favorite parts store and just got the deer in the head lites look from the parts guy after asking for parts for a 48 CJ2A, "What to Do"........... ....... Ask for a t stat for a 1970's Chevrolet small block V-8, 160 degree (as in the WILL-IS parts book) and a small sheet of 1/16" or 1/8" gasket paper.

Here is a factory cut gasket, a housing, and a piece of gasket paper. Then go to your tool box and get a smaller size ball peen hammer.




Now place the gasket paper over the end of the housing, using the ball end of the hammer gently tap in one of the mounting holes, then insert a 3/8 bolt through the new hole in the gasket and into the mounting hole of the housing and repeat the process on the next hole.



Now you have all three holes punched, no knives, scissors or band aids ;D.



Now using the hammer do the same thing to the opening in the housing.





Now you can trim the outside of the gasket using the flat side of the hammer.



Here is the new home made gasket and a factory cut one for comparison.........pretty slick, this also works in many other places on a Jeep. ;D



HTH, Lee