Topic: Opinions on Repro. '69 351W thermostat housing?

[drummingrocks]

Back when I was redoing the engine on my '69 Mach 1 (351W), the original thermostat housing had been replaced by cheap chrome unit.  I got a replacement thermostat housing from the local parts store.  Unfortunately, the replacement had a pipe plug threaded in where the distributor vacuum tree would go, and the plug took most of the threads out with it when it came out.  I thought I'd be ok and that there were enough threads to install the vacuum tree without it leaking, but it's starting to seep around the threads.

I ordered a replacement from NPD, hoping it would be a better part than what I got locally.  However, the replacement is a Parts Master part, and it's smooth, where it seems like an original thermostat housing was rough/cast.  Can anyone give me advice on where to go now?  This isn't the easiest (or cleanest) part to swap out, and I want to be sure it won't an obvious deduction at shows.  Is there a chance of finding a good usable original '69 351W thermostat housing?  I figured most of these were warped or rotted out by this point.

Here's a pic of the replacement part:


Thanks!

[Andrew@MagMustangs]

The one pictured sure looks like machined aluminum. Originals were cast aluminum. You would be better off painting on old cast-iron repro silver then using the machined one IMHO.    Good originals can still be found. They are date coded month and year, so it depends on how correct you want to go.

[J_Speegle]

Think that one is going to take some work to pass muster. Think its going to really stand out especially since its front and center

Sure it would work and look fine on a non restored daily driver - Just me