What all do I need to swap my t-stat? Oviously I need a different t-stat (what size though? I picked one up, but it looks too big - 44MM.) I also got a rubber gasket that fits around the t-stat. Do I also need a gasket for the housing? And now do I get the old one out without damaging it?

Make sure you get the right one first. Whether a 195° or 180°. Then you need the fiber gasket for the water outlet.

Drain a little coolant from the rad first, or deal with the spillage. Remove the old thermostat buy pulling it 'through' the old housing gasket (it overlaps it), then stuff a clean rag down in the hole and carefully scrape the old gasket material away, while being careful not to gouge the aluminum surface of the lower intake.

Do you have a book? If not, I suggest getting one.

Yes you will need a housing gasket, Mine leaked with out it.

I'm sure I have the right size t-stat then, the current one just looked smaller because of the overlap you mentioned. I don't have a book yet. I'll get one evenually, just to learn the ins and outs of my car, but I don't really have the time or know how to do a lot of the work myself, and the stuff I can do, I can learn how to do from here

Start with a Haynes or Chilrons manual. Get one NOW!!

Even if you don't do a lot of work on your car, they have some good info and will help you to be an educated consumer...

Reading my chiltons helped me learn a lot of stuff i wanted to learn about cars. Worth it for that alone, besides the obvious repair value, it paid for itself when i turned my rotors (for free cause i pulled em!)