how do I get this thing out? do I need a tool or can I just pry it out? I'm doing this now so I'd be content with some quick feedback, thanks

take off the 2 bolts.. take off the housing, lose a lot of coolant
pull the tstat right out
scrape off all the old gasket material
put new gasket down
put new seal on tstat
put new tstat in hole
put housing back on
bolt down

yea I've done it since I posted but, how important is the black ring around the t-stat (I don't have a new one cause they didn't tell me I needed one) I only remember when I pryed the old one out, I'd better go back to the auto store aye?

yes you need that...

lmao yes you do. unless you want to carry a few gallons of coolant and have your engine block smell like hell all the time.

yes you need it, just re-use the old one

I hope he used one. lol

he proably did mista u get that o ring yet?

sure I did, I knew I needed a new rubber ring...........................

The rubber ring actually only seals the area from water leaking past the thermostat. The car wouldn't reach temperature for a long time with it missing.

The paper gasket keeps the housing from leaking.