The Ford Barn

kevinshea · 03-31-2026, 07:45 AM

Gotta 59AB in my 35.... .do I need thermostats in each head and what is the best open temp

marko39 · 03-31-2026, 08:02 AM

180 degrees

GB SISSON · 03-31-2026, 08:17 AM

Yes, needed in both heads and are quite necessary. My favorite thermostats are from a subaru justy. I have used them in 59ab and 8ba with great success. There are a few tricks for keeping them in place within the hose, such as a small wire or in my case a smaller piece of hose just above the thermostats. Some people use two hose clamps. Not really sure how Ford secured them, but I think originals were a different configuration. I'm hoping someone chimes in with the part # for those thermostats.

pistonbroke · 03-31-2026, 08:40 AM

Gary, I don't have any pictures but my 38 zephyr had thermostats with fingers that ran along the the inside wall of the hose. These were clamped between the head and hose when the hose was clamped in place. Tim

Kube · 03-31-2026, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

Yes, needed in both heads and are quite necessary. My favorite thermostats are from a subaru justy. I have used them in 59ab and 8ba with great success. There are a few tricks for keeping them in place within the hose, such as a small wire or in my case a smaller piece of hose just above the thermostats. Some people use two hose clamps. Not really sure how Ford secured them, but I think originals were a different configuration. I'm hoping someone chimes in with the part # for those thermostats.

Original thermostats were slightly larger in outside diameter than the hoses inside diameter. Thus, the hose kept the thermostat in place.

Tim Ayers · 03-31-2026, 11:18 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

Yes, needed in both heads and are quite necessary. My favorite thermostats are from a subaru justy. I have used them in 59ab and 8ba with great success. There are a few tricks for keeping them in place within the hose, such as a small wire or in my case a smaller piece of hose just above the thermostats. Some people use two hose clamps. Not really sure how Ford secured them, but I think originals were a different configuration. I'm hoping someone chimes in with the part # for those thermostats.

The part numbers are: MotoRad #2003-180 or Stant Super Stat #5203-180. The Stant seems slightly beefier, but they are essentially the same.

Originally, the stock hoses had a bell-type shape to the part the attaches to the head. When pushed down all the way, this upper "lip" held the stat in place. You can still find aftermarket hoses that are formed correctly. I think the Bob Drake ones are.

It's simple enough to drill small holes in the neck of the head, the rim of the t-stat and then run thin stainless wire to hold it down. The hose seals up the holes. For extra measure, I smeared some high temp epoxy over the holes.

aussie merc · 03-31-2026, 11:45 PM

any way that keeps them in place is good me i ditched the full length hose and went to stainless pipes and jammed the stat between the head and the pipe [they polished up great and who dosent like a bit of bling

Lawrie · 04-01-2026, 04:13 AM

tig weld them to a short bit of ss tube then push it up the hose,
Lawrie

Tim Ayers · 04-01-2026, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawrie

tig weld them to a short bit of ss tube then push it up the hose,
Lawrie

For those without a TIG, Rick @ Noble Speed makes these for you. Price seems very reasonable @ $48 for the set. Plus, Rick is a great guy who tries to source all of his products from USA. Support him if you can.

https://www.noblespeedequipment.com/...ne-thermostats

The Art Doctor · 04-01-2026, 04:50 PM

Or try these $7 each on Rock Auto https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...hermostat,2200

petehoovie · 04-01-2026, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Art Doctor

Or try these $7 each on Rock Auto https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...hermostat,2200

GB SISSON · 04-01-2026, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Art Doctor

Or try these $7 each on Rock Auto https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...hermostat,2200

Can't see them flipping over sideways with that solid wire loop.

Tim Ayers · 04-02-2026, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

Can't see them flipping over sideways with that solid wire loop.

Would have to think they go in the long section of hose leading to the rad vs. just off of the outlet from the head. That loop appears to be too long to fit in the elbow leading off the head. Maybe I'm wrong, would need to measure.

I guess you could bend the loop a bit to fit the head.

Drbrown · 04-02-2026, 11:25 AM

This was described in an old forum. I bought a piece of straight rubber hose at NAPA having an outside diameter matching the inside diameter of my '47 radiator hoses, cut off two pieces about one inch long, coated outside of them with rubber cement and (making sure the radiator hoses were dry inside) inserted them into the bottom of the ford's radiator hoses so their bottom edge was recessed up in about one inch. After rubber cement dried I inserted thermostates into bottom of hose and slid the hose onto the head. That was about 10 years ago and they work fine.

03-31-2026, 07:45 AM	#1
kevinshea Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: old orchard beach maine Posts: 64	thermostat(s). 59AB Gotta 59AB in my 35.... .do I need thermostats in each head and what is the best open temp

03-31-2026, 08:17 AM	#3
GB SISSON Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Orcas Island Washington Posts: 6,202	Re: thermostat(s). 59AB Yes, needed in both heads and are quite necessary. My favorite thermostats are from a subaru justy. I have used them in 59ab and 8ba with great success. There are a few tricks for keeping them in place within the hose, such as a small wire or in my case a smaller piece of hose just above the thermostats. Some people use two hose clamps. Not really sure how Ford secured them, but I think originals were a different configuration. I'm hoping someone chimes in with the part # for those thermostats. __________________ Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1946 Tonner Pickup with 226 H six, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, now wearing 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)

03-31-2026, 08:40 AM	#4
pistonbroke Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Perry Mo. Posts: 838	Re: thermostat(s). 59AB Gary, I don't have any pictures but my 38 zephyr had thermostats with fingers that ran along the the inside wall of the hose. These were clamped between the head and hose when the hose was clamped in place. Tim

03-31-2026, 11:45 PM	#7
aussie merc Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: sydney australia Posts: 1,156	Re: thermostat(s). 59AB any way that keeps them in place is good me i ditched the full length hose and went to stainless pipes and jammed the stat between the head and the pipe [they polished up great and who dosent like a bit of bling

04-01-2026, 04:13 AM	#8
Lawrie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Qld, Australia Posts: 4,728	Re: thermostat(s). 59AB tig weld them to a short bit of ss tube then push it up the hose, Lawrie

03-31-2026, 08:02 AM	#2
marko39 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: harpursville ny Posts: 1,172	Re: thermostat(s). 59AB 180 degrees

04-02-2026, 11:25 AM	#14
Drbrown Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Glens Falls NY Posts: 1,403	Re: thermostat(s). 59AB This was described in an old forum. I bought a piece of straight rubber hose at NAPA having an outside diameter matching the inside diameter of my '47 radiator hoses, cut off two pieces about one inch long, coated outside of them with rubber cement and (making sure the radiator hoses were dry inside) inserted them into the bottom of the ford's radiator hoses so their bottom edge was recessed up in about one inch. After rubber cement dried I inserted thermostates into bottom of hose and slid the hose onto the head. That was about 10 years ago and they work fine.