308 Thermostat question

What should it cost to have one replaced?

 

$50 bucks max. 5 minutes of labor + $30 for the part and gasket.

 

It's going to take more than 5 minutes... you need to let out at least some of the water in the overflow or you're going to have a mess when you take off the thermostat housing. On 308QV's, at least, you'll also have to take off the airbox to get full access to the housing bolts.

In reality, it's about a 30-45 minute job. And you'll probably find the part costs nearer to $50 if it's the heavy-duty part rather than one out of a VW Rabbit.

 

An OEM Thermostat costs about $58 (Sodacom-cheapest I have found). An O-Ring is $3 and the housing gasket is $3 and you will lose approx. 1 Gal of antifreze at $6 a gallon. And it will take approx one hour. I would expect a shop to charge $70 for parts (listed) and 1 hour labor.

 

I bought two thermostats last year and are sitting on my shelf. Bought both for 45 bucks. I see others are a rip off, O-ring included. 1 hour of labor is a complete total rip off IMO. Glad I do my own work.

 

Thats only if it's an injected car. If it's a carb car hood and air box may have to come off.

 

The air box has to come off on Jean-Paul's '78, and there's a short section of 38mm hose that would probably need to be replaced too, so I'd go a little higher (and the shop should make some profit on the parts) -- maybe 1~1.5 hours labor + $100 parts

JonnyT -- Do you already have a $ estimate? (I'd wager even I'm being way too conservative )

Don -- I've got a philsophical question -- If someone were to pull up in a 308 and ask you to do a major service, what would you charge?

 

Yeah, I bought a 180F thermostat at AutoZone for $12.99 that will fit and function (also fits VW Rabbit), but it was no where near the quality and sturdiness of a proper $50-$60 thermostat and also didn't have the relief hole in it. I took it back out and put in one from Rutlands that matched the Ferrari of Atlanta one that came out of the car.

 

I bought these from my supplier in Italy when the US dollar was worth alot more. I bought alot of common parts after watching prices escalate faster than stocks. Bought up a ton of magnetti marelli dist caps and rotors before they rose. Valve cover gaskets before they went out of sight and some fuse boxes.

91tr, I would charge around 30% less than whatever the dealer would charge.

 

I would love to know where you got the thermostats. If you check Ferrari UK they are asking 95 pounds (which should be about $200) for the OEM unit, Dennis McCann is asking $59, Sodacom is $58 and GT Car Parts is asking $70 and none of them include the $3 O-ring or the $3 housing gasket and a shop would definately charge at least $6 for the lost antifreze. I emailed a guy off ebay that I had purchased a set of Ignition wires from and he charged me $29 for an italian made brass thermostat, it ended up being the Fiat X-19 thermostat that I could have purchased from Autozone for $12...live and learn. I changed mine last week or so and it definately took me more than an hour...hell to get the thermostat housing to break lose took me longer. Of course it looked like it had not been touched in 22 years and 70k miles (I have only owned the car about 4 months). On my 1982 you have to take the air box off as well as the others. I am glad I do my own work as well, but I think that JohnnyT was asking what a shop might charge.

 

Sorry, that is a secret. Another example is how I sold two pairs of timing belt tensioner bearings to 2 Fchat members not too long ago for $35 for both bearings. You can't even buy one for 35 bucks, let alone two. I know where to buy my parts and refuse to pay these idiotic stupid prices.

You guys are in denial, my t-stats are geniune Ferrari, not Fiat, not toyota, not nissan, not alfa.

I tell you what, if you want, I will see you one thermostat for a 308 for $50.00 including shipping. PM me if you want one.

 

My records show that I purchased for 77 bucks shipping included a 78 308 Thermostat and gastket several months ago. Yes I know I paid about twenty more bucks than really nescessary but it is OEM. Make sure you have the rubber gasket that the thermo actually fits into not just an o ring. I changed mine out in an hour changing the fluid as well. It is recommended by manual to change coolant every year!

 

Cant remember why I didnt use dennis I think it was a friday.

 

I then spent over 45 bucks on coolant, water wetter, pump lube, and all new green stripe hose, well worth it in my estimation! Probly saved ~300 bucks over what a dealer would charge for same service.

 

Don,
I'm curious...why the secret? In the spirit of sharing information on FChat, I fail to see why you would keep a source for reasonable parts a secret?

Birdman

 

Having just completed a 1000 mile trip with 165, (approx) water temp, i am interested in replacing the thermostat since it is almost 30 years old. I doubt the acuracy of the temp gauge/ thermostat and am fearfull($$$$$$$$) that either i am running too cool or the gauge isn't teling me the truth.

So, here we go into another "AS LONG AS" project, (as son as i get the car smogged, the ignition updated and the carbs TUNED).

This has got to be a fairly common delima for those new owners who want to do their own maintenance and bring things up to snuff.

So, New: thermostat, gasket, "O" ring, coolant, coolant temp sensor and lots of hoses. I am reminded that I have experienced a couple of head gasket failures from heater hose failure, not radiator hose failure. IMHO, these hoses are too often overlooked when servicing the cooant system. NO doubt, they se the same pressure and temp as the more commonly replaced radiator hoses or the engine hoses.

Reliability would seem to be the primary requirement of the thermostat, not cost. This is a critical engine part.

With that in mind, Who has the best thermostat?

Are all of the main coolant pipe hoses the same size, if so what is it. From all that i have heard, Gates Green Stripe hose is still the best. Any input on this???

While doing the front suspension, i checked the pipes and hoses for rubbing contact & hose condition and it looks like the heater hoses and the front pipe hoses are the originals. This is fairly scary given the consequences of a failure.

suggestions for heater hoses or tweeks to improve cooling system reliability??

still mired in darkness
chris

 

any help on where to find parts to do my 30,000 service on my 308 gtb, plus/wires/waterpump/thermostate and so on!

thanks for any help

 

I watch my gauges religiously!

Green Stripe is about the best on the planet. It is so stiff though it is hard to apply in certain places.

Dennis Mcaan or Sodacoms have thermos.

 

"Guido's," in Chico, California might be a shop to call...sorry, don't have his #.

 

Chris I usually run around 165 on the open road and only when I get in city traffic and the outside temp is around 90 does the temp gage go to 195. And then the fans turn on and in about 5 mins they shut off and I'm back at 165. When I have the AC on it usually takes maybe 10mins to bring the temp to 165. I assume that the Thermstat is orign. and until it fails I'm letting it stay in. Use phos free antifreeze and change it every 2 years. Works for me.

 

Thanks Steve,

I feel better knowing i'm not alone. I am gathering parts for the upcoming maintenance/rehabilitation and will include phosphate free coolant since the po's records were a bit "spotty".

best,
chris

 

Oops, I should read more carefully, I thought you were looking for a shop to DO the 30K...