mr. fix it
Old Man with a Hat
While I haven't tried one yet, and there may be other suppliers less expensive, Classic Industries claims to have a reproduction now that matches the OEM water neck including the original casting numbers. Part number MP6500. Priced at $44.99 so it is somewhat expensive.
I personally would prefer something even more robust than the Classic Industries offering (I didn't think much of the original Chrysler ones as they didn't hold up all that well either) but most of the other stuff available for mopar water neck applications out on the market currently is just junk - don't over tighten the bolts with those or they will warp - and it doesn't take much. Thin aluminum crap.
Maybe the "billet aluminum" ones at Summit are a good one as referenced above, and an even more expensive more robust looking one is available from them as well:
Billet Specialties Thermostat Housings 90820
But the seller's feedback isn't stellar either.................
But the best one of all might likely be this one on Ebay, although I do wish they had a non-chrome one available, and you can't beat the price:
SB BB Mopar Chrome Water Neck Thermostat 318 340 383 440 Housing Gasket Bolts | eBay
For a whopping $14.95 with "fast and free" delivery, it seems like the logical choice at present.....................and I like that it is claimed to be made of "high quality steel", not aluminum:
View attachment 282924
MOPAR CHROME WATER NECK
FITS ALL MOPAR V8
- CHROME STEEL BRAND NEW SMALL BLOCK / BIG BLOCK MOPAR (CHRYSLER, DODGE, PLYMOUTH) WATER NECK
- FITS MOPAR 273 318 340 360 361 383 400 413 426W 440 ENGINES
- COMES COMPLETE AS PICTURED WITH CHROME STEEL THERMOSTAT HOUSING, CHROME BOLTS AND GASKET FOR A PERFECT SEAL
- MADE FROM EXTREMELY HIGH QUALITY STEEL, BLACK FINISH IS EXTREMELY NICE
- THIS WATER NECK FITS ALL SBM & BBM ENGINES
- THANKS!
FYI...
If you do or did buy a chrome T-Stat housing be sure to file off all the chrome from the bottom and sand it flat or it will leak...