Alright, so that stupid plastic pipe formed a hairline crack, and now I am leaking coolant slowly. (This is an 89 TII thermostat cover I speak of). I know there is the possibility of retro-fitting the 87-88 water pump, in order to get a metal thermostat cover, but is there any other way?

I seem to remember a thread that talked about making a metal pipe, but it did not seem to make it to production. Has anyone fabricated/produced one for this application? I will need to get this fixed, and I would love to get something alot more durable than the stock plastic, any ideas?

 

Nobody that I currently know of makes a metal s5 thermostat neck replacement. I was thinking about doing it but have other priorities. If you want to switch to a S4 metal neck you would have to change to an s4 waterpump and housing as well.

 

Go to Mazda and invest in a new stock one. That "stupid plastic pipe" lasted 16 years, and there's no reason why a new one won't last just as long.

 

Jeez, it's not even expensive. $62 from Mazdatrix.

http://www.mazdatrix.com/b8.htm

 

Sorry the cast aluminum thermostat cover for the S5 Kouki FC's are on the shelf for now.
I've got to put an order in close to $4,000 for turbos :P for our 20B car, and that's a higher priority right now.
I'll try and shoot for the end of the year to get that part rolling, unless I lose my pants off in Vegas during SEMA05. :P


-Ted

 

I sincerely thank you for the advice, but I have to say I don't appreciate the attitude behind it.

First off, I just bought the car recently, and with no prior experience with FC's, have no way of knowing exactly how long that part has lasted. Could it have been the original pipe? Certainly possible. Secondly, "expensive" is an objective opinion, one that we clearly do not share on this matter. We all have different incomes, and are working with different budgets, so I take some offense to that comment (especially since I was already well aware of where to obtain the part, as well as the cost involved).

If there was no attitude intended in your replies, then chalk it up to a written message simply being misconstrued. You do make a very valid point of the pipe holding up for 16 years, and it is one that I will consider when I address the matter.

Thanks to RETed as well, I remembered the thread about fabricating these things, just couldn't remember that it was you who had brought up the topic. Also, I'll thank you directly for the various resources you have posted online, I've reffered to them quite a few times.

 

I just don't get it when people critisise parts for breaking when they get old. That's what happen on cars this old, so you better get used to it. You admit to not knowing how long it had lasted, but you called it stupid anyway. Sorry if my attitude upset you, I guess we're even.

There's no point in being offended about the cost comment either, no offence was intended. Even if you can't actually afford it at the moment, it's still not a particularly expensive part, which is all I meant. I expected it to cost more. If an aftermarket aluminium piece existed it would cost at least as much, most likely more.

 

Junkyard. Five bucks. Get two. Or ebay.

 

So I guess the misunderstanding was on both of us. My "stupid part" comment really was not a criticism of the part, I know full well a 16 year old car is going to have stuff break, that remark was just a product of minor frustration more than anything. In any case, I'm way over it. Thanks for the help everyone.