Looking for the correct MAGNUM 5.2 THERMOSTAT and HOUSING. I want the Robert Shaw High performance thermostat and was inquiring whether there was another option for the housing. The stock housing is a longer design which is needed, I didn't know whether there was another option out there. Any help here would be appreciated. I just don't trust the 19 year old's at my local auto store....imagine that!

-Doug

I don't know if it is still being sold or not but there was a cast aluminum thermostat housing available for the magnum engines. It helps solve the constant weeping a lot of the sheet metal oem parts have.

that is interesting.
a quick search shows that someone made a batch of them and they went to regular parts houses as replacement housings.
but that was 6 years ago and all of them are stamped steel now when you use those part numbers.
too bad.

If I remember right, I ordered mine off of Amazon. Tried to get another and got the steel housing instead.

M bodies use the same gasket and thermostat, so theorectically an M body housing will bolt on.

While there appears to be a cast AL housing for the M's, it is shorter. Rockauto has pictures

I recall, years ago seeing a new cast alternative to the leaking/weeping factory housing. I've had this Jeep, 1994 since 1997...Swapped thermostats out a few times over the 240k. The housing is once again seeping coolant....so, figured I'd ask.

I did order a new steel one....maybe it's gonna last longer than the stock one...I do recall using coolant sealant only the last time I sealed it up....

thanks for the feedback!

What is "coolant sealant"? Never heard that one.
Indian head? Aviation seal(aka permatex#3)
Rtv? What color rtv?

That said I've had my rounds with a few of those magnum thermostat housings, I wish someone would make a more substantial version that doesn't warp as easy as the tin ones they come with

I have had several go-rounds with the Magnum thermostat housing.

Notice that the official Magnum thermostat gasket has been revised at least 3 times.

The 1995 FSM advises loosening the air conditioner compressor bracket and swinging the compressor over without undoing any freon connections to service the thermostat.

I resisted this the first 2 times.
On the third time I followed the FSM to the letter and found it actually did not take any more total time and gave you far more space to get everything right without the “down in the hole” maneuvering and long wrench extensions.

The last time I skipped the gasket and used the cheese whiz “Right Stuff.”

I always unbolt the compressor as I fought around it once, and that was enough

BY PERMATEX...GOOD STUFF!!

Yep, So tempting over the past 25+yrs to struggle that thing out. Serpentine belt makes it all easy!

after wading through a bunch of fake ones on ebay, I think I found one of the cast aluminum ones.
will see when it gets here. cost double what they originally sold for, but still not bad at 22 bucks.

Awesome, I look forward to what you found. Can ya post the sellers info so I can preview it too. I did order another steel stock looking version by Dorman....I'll compare and see what I see. The design being pretty tall throws a curve ball into the search, but is not really that unique....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/155103316136''

There are a lot with that set of part numbers that look right.
fortunately they were marked by someone else as bogus.
they show the first pic as the cast part, but then show stamped steel parts as other pics and someone ordered them and found them to only be the steel part.

I messaged this person first before I bought.
there is also a jeep posting about this with additional part numbers that I searched with same sort of mixed bag results.

got it in today.
it was as described. aluminum housing instead of the stamped steel.
they machine finished the bottom where the gasket goes, but not where the hose attaches, but I guess it will mold to the bumpy surface.

The steel thermostat nipple
and the steel plenum plate
were penny pinching moves that cost customers hundreds of times the $ that Chrysler saved per vehicle.

I was looking again in case there were others out there, but found another interesting ebay scammer.
he spray painted the stamped steel one silver. lol.
so first glance it looks like the aluminum one.
2 others left it in the wrapper so it was harder to tell it was black.
another used soo much flash lighting that it looks sliver at first glance.
you know they know and are just trying to get someone to bit and hit you with a restocking fee and reselling it again.

I have to change mine so what is the best thermostat to use also?

Andrew is this the unit and seller you purchased from? "Global Parts 8241423 Engine Coolant Water Outlet 85181"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Global-Par...;nordt=true&rt=nc&orig_cvip=true

yes that is the one.