closed cooling thermostat question

[b0mbtrack]

Mercruiser, 5.0L V-8, carbed. 1996 I think
The thermostat part number is 55131A5 or 18-3532 i think one might be an after market number because both show the same one.
Anyway, i'm replacing the housing and i got the new one but i was looking at the old one and i see some sort of a brass? ring that is in the big part of the housing. The ring looks like it is all wavy or crushed but it looks like it was supposed to be like that, like it came with it from the factory. Anyway, the new thermostat housing doesn't have this ring, just wondering if that ring is important and if i'm supposed to get one.
Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: closed cooling thermostat question

Anyway, the new thermostat housing doesn't have this ring, just wondering if that ring is important and if i'm supposed to get one.

Ayuh,.... I believe you'll find that piece has it's own part #,+ Yes,.. You Need it....
The newer 1s are Plastic......

 

[b0mbtrack]

Re: closed cooling thermostat question

Ok, i think i got that part number 23-47508. But looking at the new thermostat housing it looks a little different than the old one.
The old housing looks like it needed that sleeve just for the thermostat to have something to sit on while the new housing can't even fit the sleeve into it. On the new housing the thermostat can sit on the housing itself without the sleeve. Everything else is identical on the housing. Does this sound ok?