What tool for Thermostat housing

[BEJinFbk]

I used one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Gearwrench-Skt-T ... +t-40+LONG



Attached to a 3/8 breaker bar, with lots of PB, and heavy and even downwards/outwards pressure. Bolts came off nicely. I replaced them with my own water pump housing bolts.

+1
The long bit is a MAJOR winner for this job!

And patience with the PB Blaster. Spray it and
blow the rest of the day at a BBQ or a ballgame.
The longer that stuff sits, the better it works!

[rguzz]

Then replace them with intake manifold bolts (?12mm) as outlined in RSPI video that covers changing the thermostat. I did that and it works great. Maybe 5 years from now when I need to go back in there it will be easier.

[RigsPGT]

I got lucky on both the base and T5 without breaking one. At one point while removing the one in the T5 I thought it snapped in half but it just loosened. Before installing them back, I smeared a bit of anti seize on each bolt in case I needed to go back there again. Maybe I didn't need to but I've picked up this habit while replacing engines and transmissions on my 94 Ford Probe GT-T (7 engines and 5 manual transmissions) and it made swaps easier and faster.

[JimBee]

That long Torx bit is absolutely your best bet with heavy downward force. + the PB Blaster

On my first one, I used a 1/4" extension driving a 1/4" socket with the Torx bit. That worked on one of the bolts. The head of one still stripped out and I ended up drilling the head off with a 3/8" hi speed bit. Then to get the shank out I used the two nut method: two nuts threaded onto the shank and tightened against each other. Then a wrench on the lower nut to turn the shank out. That shank squeaked and groaned almost all the way out. As suggested above, I used hex bolts putting it back together with some anti-seize on the threads.

[ktuuri]

Wow, looks like I'm going to pick up one of them long torx. I was just over at Neil's place and he showed me on his how a short bit with an extension it is still on a bit of an angle with the inside bolt. I will spray it down again with PB Blaster and tackle that tomorrow.
It's a late start today, but I will start in on the timing belt and crank seal.

Thanks for the good info !!


Ken