Jim Kelly posted:Ed, Even if your thermostat tests OK, a replacement is cheap and good insurance. Someone likely used that engine as a DD before your application and the t-stat has likely opened and closed thousands of times. If you don't use a Subaru t-stat, make sure that your replacement has a jiggle pin, and that you install the pin at the upright 12:00 position to allow a slight coolant bypass until it opens.
Thanks Jim (and all). I replaced the T-stat with a proper OEM unit when I did the conversion in 2014; also the water pump (cast impeller) and then the head gaskets (Fel-Pro) and head bolts. The T-stat now has three seasons and about 3,000 miles on it and is fine. It only fits in the housing one way and, yeah, there's a little hole in it with a pin.
There's one overflow tank in the car and it's in front.
The system works if I do the bleed procedures. I failed to do the procedures and this is what I get.