t-stat install [and some other cooling system q's]
 

my thermostat froze up 5 days ago, so I'm here to replace it.. I went ot autozone bought a new 180F one. Now I'm trying to get the housing off, but obiously I can't do this.. What do I need to take off? I have the 7/16 socket.. I just can't get it straight on there, so it just slips, and I don't want ot strip the bolt. I've removed a few vacum lines.. but I can't seem to get it still. My box head wrench doesn't have enough torque but fits perfectly on there. I tried tapping it with a hammer.. but I still can't get enough torque on it.

Oh yeah, the tube smells like some nasty piss.. and there is coolant comming up through the housing on the block.. I put a shop towel on it, but it still doesn't stop it.. I am just so frustrated..


-justin

Doesn't sound like you're taking the right thing apart. You need to remove the two 10mm nuts off the studs at the base of the housing/neck. Follow the upper radiator hose from the rad to the engine, and remove the aluminum thingy it's attached to from the intake.

http://www.geeks-unite.com/IM000363.JPG

that look like the right thing? lol its the tube with the piss like smelling stuff, kinda leaking out.


-justin

well, got off the phone with my dad. Sunday i'm running off to sears to pick up a universal joint 7/16 socket.. why didn't I think of that? oh well, the thermostat is frozen in the open posistion, so she's going on the road tonight! My mom has allowed me to drive on the back road with her, so I will finally get to see what she's really got! Been so long since she's been on the road and driven to redline [thanks to my mom's grandma driving style]. Well i'm off guys, time for my nap, after all that interior work.. i'll post up some pics tonight of the interior...


-justin

One bolt, one O'ring, one seal under the housing. 7/16" is slipping because you need a 10 mm wrench (engine is metric). Everything needs to be squeaky clean to work properly. Since the seal is by O-ring, the bolt is just there to hold the housing in place - tightening will not stop a leak & should be snug not godzilla.

Did I say the housing and manifold surfaces must be really clean and free from pits etc ? I coat the bolt & O-ring with anti-seize and press down on the flat opposite the bolt with a long screwdriver so the housing goes into the manifold evenly, otherwise it will cock/leak (note it does not need to be absolutely level, just close). Pointy end of a standard thermostat (I use Stant SuperStats) goes up. If you can find a lower seal, it goes between the thermostat and the housing (on top of the thermostat). If not, the O-ring is what seals it.

Code "C" engine has one bolt, code "L" has two, dunno about code "3".

cover
 

i just took off the 3800 cover and got to it prett well,good idea to get a 180 instaed of the 195's taht are in most stock bonnies.

URG!!! Well the install of the oil pan, and putting together tons of other crap I took apart [valve covers, egr valve pcv valve, ignition, etc..]. Well, the thermostat was one of the things [never fully installed it, since the car didn't need to run, since I broke 'er]. Well, I "installed" it. Started her up [btw, she's misfiring, but that isn't relevant at the moment]. She ran fairly well, smooth idle from the perspective of she was missing. But then all the sudden BAM!!! HUGE splash of coolant, just pissing out the thermostat housing like niagra falls!! I was like OH SHIT!!!!!!!! shut off the engine, and told my mom she isn't going to be running tonight. I know why its leaking, I just don't know how to fix it. The housing wasn't fully seated to the block [obviously], and it just moved the gasket slightly, and pissed right out. I however at the time I installed it, did not notice this, and when the hammer got it down far enough, I thought the bolt would get the rest of the slack [WRONG!!] So, how do I get this virgin tight housing to the block? I can't get a hammer close enough to the end lip, I can't get a flat screwdriver with a hammer to that end lip, and I can't push it down by hand. What do I do? I can post pics if you need 'em.


-justin

At least you got the right thermostat on the 1st shot!! I got mine all apart after getting the thermo from the parts store--only to find out they gave me the wrong one!!! And like an idiot I didn't have another car to drive back to the store!! Needless to say I still have the old one in there! :x

how hard was it to put the housing back on? did the o-ring which sealed the housing to the intake [not the gasket which seals the t-stat to the housing], move, and have a little extra slack in it?


-justin

isnt having a 180 degree thermostat bad in a cold climate place?,cause the computer is gonan think its colder and dump more fuel,and then its gonna reduce your gas mileage?