1994 GMC Van Two Wheel Drive Automatic

Hello, I installed a new thermostat in my 94 GMC Vandura V8 and when I popped it out I did not mark exactly whitch direction it was located.
I know about how it was sitting in there because I used a putty knife to pop it out, but I do not know if I should of been paying attention to the the coiled spring that goes into the block or just the direction of the top part that was initially visable.

I am wondering what would be the signs if it was inserted backwards or different than how it was removed?
At the time of replacement I had a crack in my radiator and had to mess with that so figured i would replace that because the temp had been rising like it was about to over heat and then drop back down.

I had my radiator replaced with a new one because it could not be repaired, I had it professionaly done and it was pressure tested. So on the way home a couple of times my temp gauge would rise up a bit higher than where it normally would be and then would drop back to where it should be. So I am feeling paranoid that the thermostat is not sitting right. I get heat when I turn the temp to hot or heat. It is cool when I turn it down.

What symptoms would I be showing if I put it in wrong? Thanks to all who take the time to answer this. If I tried to say to much and made it sound more confusing than it really is I apoligize.

If it's put it wrong it will never open and almost immediately overheat. The spring has to face toward the engine.




78 Corvette Pace Car For Sale-18k mi orig-Florida

When you say the spring has to face towards engine what do you mean? When I took it out it had the bar across the top going width of vehicle. I drove it home from the radiator place and it did not seem to over heat. The mechanic put a pressure test to it, would he of noticed if it was over heating?
Also if the thermostat is in wrong would my temp gauge show it overheating?

It's not complicated. The part with the spring faces toward the engine and the short pointy part faces the radiator.




78 Corvette Pace Car For Sale-18k mi orig-Florida

So if the thermostat was in backwards my temp gauge would still function properly like it did before prior to instalation correct? And I would be running hot and over heat very quickly then.
I drove for 30+ minutes from the radiator shop with basicaly normal temp range according to the gauge, so all should be good right? i just want to make sure that I can trust my gauge still and it would not be affected to indicate cooler/normal temp reading when it is actually hot because the t-stat was in backwards.

I appreciate you answering my basic questions.


(This post was edited by CrazyGambit on Oct 28, 2009, 10:11 PM)

The gauge operates independently and should remain accurate as long as the sensor isn't in an air pocket. It reads coolant, not air.




78 Corvette Pace Car For Sale-18k mi orig-Florida

So the temp gauge is its own seperate operating piece and has nothing to do with the thermostat itself and would not effect the reading.
Thanks.
This is a nice forum you guys/gals got.

So far no gals yet here but don't rule it out. I've known females that can kick the a$$es of guys in this trade!

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston

The top picture is the thermostat. The lower picture is the thermostat housing. You can see, on the housing, where the radiator hose connects. Right? The picture of the thermostat is right side up. Just make sure it looks like that when you 'drop' it into the cavity.
Loren
SW WA