Rust in the Coolant - Run with No Thermostat?

[georides]

Hi guys,

well we had some problems now that the 87 non-turbo automatic is on the road and registered. Left it to my bro for the weekend, comes back the radiator hoses are practically hanging off and theres hardly any coolant in the machine, overheats while idlling and I'm just messing with the distributor.

We decide to take it out for a drive, should have been forewarned about the white smoke coming out the tailpipe, HEADGASKET

Thing overheats, there's more pressure in those radiator hoses than I've ever seen (I had put a clamp on one, which was a bad idea, no heat coming out the core, we decide to nurse it back to the house 5 miles.

Installed the "double money back guarantee" K&W Nanotechnology head gasket sealant as a try before taking off the insurance to change the head, will report later on this.

THE QUESTION:

Should have known from the get go when this car was donated, massive amounts of rust in the cooling system, can't get rid of the brown water. Original thermostat was stuck open.

Tempted to leave the new one out, judging from how well the thermo housing sealed today when running the treatment.

Would be the horror to have the thermo be stuck CLOSED!