Volvo penta thermostat housing hoses leaking

[Schonl]

I purchased a 1979 boat with a Chevrolet 350 motor and volvo penta outdrive. This is my first inboard outboard boat so please bear with me. I took it out for the first time today and it started leaking water at two of the thermostat housing hose connections. I am thinking possible pitting around the hose barbs is causing it not to seal properly. I tried tightening one of them while on the water and it seemed to make it worse so I just left it alone. Do they make a stainless steel replacement for this particular housing volvo penta 855470? I notice on the top of this housing there is a extra hole to mount a T for additional hoses, my application doesn't require the additional T so its just blocked off. I've seen stainless housings, but they don't list them as a replacement for 855470, but they look like they would work.
Also my temp is staying between 150 to 160, could it be too hot and that is why it's leaking? Thanks for any help!
Here is a link to the type of thermostat housing I have:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Volvo-Penta...ash=item23758cb01c:g:JcYAAOSwPCVX6avp&vxp=mtr
I tried posting a pic of mine but kept getting invalid file type.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Your boat is amost 40 years old. It has outlived its design live 2.5 times. Just get another housing and go boating.

No, they don't make a stainless version. If the housing rusted out, your intake is probably close to rusted out

 

[Schonl]

Your boat is amost 40 years old. It has outlived its design live 2.5 times. Just get another housing and go boating.

No, they don't make a stainless version. If the housing rusted out, your intake is probably close to rusted out

Actually the block, carb and intake was changed out with a fresh rebuild about 50 hrs. ago, according to the previous owner and it does appear so. All the other parts were added back to the new motor from the old motor, hence the rusty thermo housing. I just didn't want to deal with the same issue again if I could avoid it by using SS. Thanks for your response!

 

[mr 88]

Your thermostat is more than likely designed to open up at 160, as most marine engines are , so no, your not running hot. In most cases if your thermostat is stuck closed you will peg the gauge in a very short time . If stuck open you will run cold most of the time and the gauge should show that. That engine is designed to run at 160sh.

 

[Schonl]

Great, I appreciate the info, good to know it's not running hot and the thermostat is functioning properly. Thanks!

 

[jerryjerry05]

Sometimes loosening the clamp and taking the hose off and putting it back on and putting the clamp in a different position will stop the leaks.
​Maybe add a second clamp.

 

[Schonl]

Thanks, I think i'm gonna try your suggestion this morning. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks for the advice!

 

[bruceb58]

Just buy another housing. It will likely be the last one you will buy for that engine.

 

[Lou C]

Even in salt water those housings last at least 10 years. My boat's on the third one. They start to get flaking rust on the inside and that will keep the 'stat from closing and then you're running too cold.

 

[Schonl]

Okay, I took the hoses off and to my surprise there wasn't much pitting at all. I replaced 3 of the 4 hoses, two 3/4" and one of the larger hoses hoping that was the problem. That did it, no more drips after getting the temp up to 160 degrees for about 10 minutes on land. Surprised me that the hoses weren't brittle or dry rotted, but they were the culprit. Thanks to all you good people for your help, it is greatly appreciated!