changing thermostat

RE: changing thermostat

I've done it recently. Let me know if you need any in process advice.

The toughest part is getting the two little bolts loose on the housing. I would suggest you break those free before you do anything - just in case you can't get them - you can postpone and buy a new housing and hoses before you put the car out of commission.
 
RE: changing thermostat

Follow those directions and be there for an hour or more. Have fun.

Heres an excerpt from an earlier article I wrote on this procedure:

For coolant I use the Texaco Havoline "Dexcool" coolant. I have tried ALL the so called temperature reducers such as "Water Wetter" and such with NO decrease in overall coolant temperature under any conditions. I have seen small decreases in temperature from the Havoline "Dexcool" formula by itself.

Aslo despite what some may say this job is something you can do right in your driveway in about 30 minutes total.

I have done this swap in as low as 10 minutes.

Get yourself a 2ft extension on a 3/8 ratchet and a deep 10mm socket.

The use a 1/4 drive ratchet to remove the head filler for the coolant located on the top center/right of the engine, also romove the expansion tank fill cap. (see pic)

http://www.lincolnmotorsport.com/fill.jpg

Put the car on ramps, climb directly under the center of the car, the tstat housing is on the drivers side. (see pic below)

Stat Location picture with engine removed for ease of identification.

http://www.lincolnmotorsport.com/statlocation.jpg

If your still not sure of the exact location, just follow the upper drivers side radiator hose directly to the t-stat housing.

Then you just snake the deep 10 mm on the 2ft extension straight up to the bolts and break them loose.

The bolt closest to the drivers side requires a little prying of the housing to get the socket on it.

It is a little messy so be prepared for a coolant bath unless you want to fight the expansion tank hose off the back of the t stat housing and "Pre-Drain" (good luck)

Another tip for those of you who may have a hard time with the bolts there are two options that I have had success with.

1) Use a 3/8 impact gun set to medium to break them loose.
2)Undo them by hand when the car is at full operating temperature. Just break them loose and do NOT remove until cool.
Its easier to get them loose when hot.

When refilling the system, start the car with both filler caps open.

Immediately fill the head filler first until it brims, then fill the expansion tank next also to the brim.

Allow the car to run for up to 15 minutes until the stat opens then fill the head filler and tank in the same procedure as the first. Repeat until leveled off full on the expansion tank window.
What your doing here is burping all the air pockets in the system. Just to be safe I repeat this process one more time the very next day.

If you need any further informatin on this Lee, you have my number Buddy.
Click to expand...

I hope this helps, Geno.
 
RE: changing thermostat

Norm - I came at it from the bottom, yes. Used the "Geno" instructions mentioned above - and lived to tealk about it.

At the time it was about 15 degrees outside and the garage floor was wet and icy. That was not fun. Oh Yeah - I also installed the gasket in the wrong order and my first finish wasn't...
 
RE: changing thermostat

That pic with the engine out of the car scared me for a second. I didn't think a t-stat change was THAT much of a pain :)

[font color = blue]Tony - St. Louis, MO[/font]
1998 LSC - Toreador Red/Light Graphite
1989 Mustang LX 5.0 - Scarlet Red coupe
[FONT COLOR=RED]>*> [link:www.markviii.org/~tonymueller|Tony's Internet Garage] <*<[/FONT]
 
RE: changing thermostat

Norm - I came at it from the bottom, yes. Used the "Geno" instructions mentioned above - and lived to tealk about it.

At the time it was about 15 degrees outside and the garage floor was wet and icy. That was not fun. Oh Yeah - I also installed the gasket in the wrong order and my first finish wasn't...
Click to expand...

At least it was nice out when i did mine, but i did get drenched in coolant (drain first - pffft). I took a look at the gasket and wasn't sure which way it went in, so i headed inside and looked at alldata. Saved me doing it twice. :)
 
RE: changing thermostat

I was too cold to think straight. I kind of knew something was wrong when I tried to fill it up and heard the splashing. Made the re-removal all the more pleasant laying in green slippery stuff.

That memory reminds me why I moved to a townhouse - so I would be less tempted to do my own mechanical work.
 
RE: changing thermostat

If you need help Shawn, bring the car by my place and we'll get it done in 9:59 seconds, just so we can break Geno's record... With an older, higher mileage car, things are always more difficult (read: rust, corrosion, etc.) the first time. Breaking the bolts loose is the only real challenge. Coolant, I just let any neighbors dog come on by and lick it up as a treat!

'93 MonsterMark Project Car
Bryan
 
RE: changing thermostat

Just did this with the geno instructions from underneath... however only a 1 foot extension is needed, not 2 feet. Drive up on some ramps, open the petcock and let it drain then crack both bolts on the stat and remove. When putting the new one in, be sure to not pinch and break the new o-ring like I did 2 times. ;)

Like someone else said, break the two bolts loose on the stat housing before draining the fluids to be sure you're going to be able to get it done. Otherwise you'll need that coolant in there to drive it to a shop or friends house.

Chad
 
RE: changing thermostat

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
...When putting the new one in, be sure to not pinch and break the new o-ring like I did 2 times. ;) [/div]

Been there, done that,... once. :)
 
RE: changing thermostat

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]...When putting the new one in, be sure to not pinch and break the new o-ring like I did 2 times. ;) [/div]Been there, done that,... once. :)
[/div]

To me, this is the most critical part as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top