65fback
Well-known member
I went to change the thermostat this weekend while going through the hoses. What with everything else I've been finding on the car that hasn't been touched in how long, I figured the hoses and thermostat weren't trustworthy. In retrospect I'm both (a) glad and (b) ticked off that I did.
When I pulled the upper radiator hose off I found a whole heap of crud all around the thermostat. I should have taken a picture. It was NASTY. And that was after doing a flush at home. I don't know if all the junk congregated there or if it had been there all along (makes me wonder if I should take radiator in for a boil). Then I went to pull the thermostat cover off because, well, you know, there was crud and the thermostat was probably punky. I snapped one of the two bolts. It went real easy. I was a little surprised to say the least. It's been a long time since I snapped one so I'd forgotten what it feels like. The other bolt came out.
The bolt didn't snap at the head. It snapped just a little way into the thermostat housing, so there's a lot of meat to grab onto. I've been soaking it with penetrating oil since Sunday, first with WD-40 and today with PB Blaster. So far it has refused to budge. I'm not keen on giving it too much oomph and making matters worse (yet).
Is it possible to heat the bolt to ease extraction, or will I be royally messing with the head? I'd rather go the long route, pull the radiator and drill the bolt out than have to take the head in to be trued up - I'd rather not spend any $ on the head seeing as it's an early log and I intend to go to a late log head at some point in the future.
When I pulled the upper radiator hose off I found a whole heap of crud all around the thermostat. I should have taken a picture. It was NASTY. And that was after doing a flush at home. I don't know if all the junk congregated there or if it had been there all along (makes me wonder if I should take radiator in for a boil). Then I went to pull the thermostat cover off because, well, you know, there was crud and the thermostat was probably punky. I snapped one of the two bolts. It went real easy. I was a little surprised to say the least. It's been a long time since I snapped one so I'd forgotten what it feels like. The other bolt came out.
The bolt didn't snap at the head. It snapped just a little way into the thermostat housing, so there's a lot of meat to grab onto. I've been soaking it with penetrating oil since Sunday, first with WD-40 and today with PB Blaster. So far it has refused to budge. I'm not keen on giving it too much oomph and making matters worse (yet).
Is it possible to heat the bolt to ease extraction, or will I be royally messing with the head? I'd rather go the long route, pull the radiator and drill the bolt out than have to take the head in to be trued up - I'd rather not spend any $ on the head seeing as it's an early log and I intend to go to a late log head at some point in the future.
. I think I'll keep soaking it until this weekend when I can devote some concentrated time to it. I've got a couple other fish to fry to get the car inspection-worthy in NH (parking brake, cluster lights, horn).
