Fitting a new thermostat to Bis and torqueing the head.

[banjomandolin]

Hi all, I recently ordered a new thermostat from Ricambio for the Bis and whilst waiting for it's arrival spent much time and energy cleaning up the thermostat housing which was all in vain because the thermostat came complete with a new housing. Also the new housing has two built-in legs with turned over ends which grip the end of the thermostat to keep it in position. Everything works perfectly. The thermostat opens with the temp. gauge needle slightly on the hot side of centre causing the temperature to drop like a stone. The next step is to torque the head. Is this best done from under the car and if so does the exhaust have to come off ?. Doing it from above also looks possible but would mean the carb. and it's water heated platform have to come off and this entails draining off the coolant which I don't want to do. I presume that torqueing the head will require the tappets clearances to be checked. Any helpfull advice would be greatly appreciated. Whilst on the subject of the waterworks, if anybody is thinking of removing the expansion tank from the car it has to exit through the left hand light cluster. You first have to remove, of course, all the glass and bulbs etc.

[Chris Lakin]

hi john, i will find a diagram for your which will help your re torque the head, i am just about to do the same.

regards

Chris

[Chris Lakin]

here is a pic thats might help you, click on it to enlarge



the exhaust will have to come off, and the carburetta manifold to allow access to some more head bolts i believe. You might as well check the valve clearences while the exhaust is off, because you cant remove the rocker cover without taking the exhaust off whcih is a hassle.

Its akward torwuing the engine up, with it in the car very little space as you know.

yes i think they supply the new thermostat hosuing as there was a problem with the old, i had the same paid about £15+ for it from fiat. My temp gauge never goes past half way. So it must be ok.

regards

Chris

[banjomandolin]

Hi Chris, thanks for that, I look forward to your diagram. I went under the car today and took off the exhaust lump and rocker cover. It all looks staight forward with plenty of room to work. I can see now that the carb. platform has to come off in order to access the two hidden head bolts so a drain down is unavoidable. I have also taken off the rocker shaft so a tappet clearance re-setting is essential.

[banjomandolin]

Hi Chris, your diagram received with thanks, you had me fooled with that 9mm size at first but I have now identified it: It's a 9mm stud which reduces to 8mm for the thread so accepts a 13mm AF nut.