VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 1930 Thermostat

Can someone share with me what they know about thermostats and thermostat housings on the 1930. I've aquired what I was told was an original thermostat and housing but when I go to assemble them it doesn't appear as if I'm going to get a good seal. I can't get the housing to seat to the head. It appears that the "flange" of the thermostat is in the way. What am I missing? Can I use the original housing with a modern thermostat.

There were two different thermostat housings. One was just a plate ~ 1" thick that provided enough room for the bellows and plate of the thermostat in the head. The other was a two piece housing with a rectangular center section for the thermostat and bypass valve. The later one was primarily installed whith a hot water heater. Not exactly sure when the heater was introduced. It may not have been until late '30 or into the '31 model year.

Yes you can use a modern thermostat with either of them as well as the standard outlet.

Thanks Chipper. Guess I'm looking for a thermostat housing and outlet. If anyone has an extra and would like to sell it I'm interested.

As Chipper said above, there are two different types of thermostat housings.....one for the heater and one for an engine without a heater. Which thermostat housing do you require?

The accessory Chevrolet hot water heater was introduced in 1931.

I am sending you a PM.

Are you trying to use and original thermostat or a modern one for a small block Chevy. The small block Chevy thermostat will fit between the head and regular outlet if you use a thick gasket. Paper thin gaskets don't have enough "give" to accommodate the thickness of the thermostat flange. Thicker gaskets do!

My 1930 coupe does not have a thermostat.

I'm planning on going with the original style thermostat. Going to start with the spacer without the heater and will change over after the heater gets restored.

If you are going to use the spacer you can get one of those made at a local machine shop using the base of the water outlet as a pattern.

If you decide to convert to a hot water heater later (a Chevrolet hot water heater was not available in 1930....a Chevrolet exhaust jacket heater was used instead), locating the correct Chevrolet accessory upper and lower thermostat housings is going to be difficult since they are hard to come by.

A thermostat in 1930 was an accessory item and not standard equipment.

Thanks, I didn't know that.

Sure......glad to help out.

Are they the same for 1929 & 1930 ??

here is what my Thermostat Housing Looks Like w/o Heater Thermostat Housing 1929

The thermostat spacer is the same for 1929 and 1930.

Thanks JY Dog...

when I get back to engine I can post more picts if needed, thought I had some when I made the gaskets, but guess not.