changed thermostat in 2000

[GuttaFixIt]

Hi, I have read about changing the thermostat in the Ventures. I don't remember anyone saying about removing the throttle body. Well at least in the pages I have read. I changed mine today and removed the throttle body and the exhaust crossover. Throttle body gasket was around $4.00 cheap enough to replace. And REALLY worth to remove it. I used a 1/4" ratchet and a 13 mm socket to remove the bottom bolt on the thermostat housing. Just thought I would let you know if you plan on changing the thermostat make it easier for you and remove the throttle body.

[Tech II]

there are three ways to do it......

Remove nothing, and with patience on a cold engine, and the right tools, that lower bolt can be removed......time consuming.....

The other two ways are to remove the throttle body OR loosen the crossover pipe studs(studs tend to break) and move the crossover pipe away from the lower bolt.....

[GuttaFixIt]

Originally Posted by Tech II

there are three ways to do it......

Remove nothing, and with patience on a cold engine, and the right tools, that lower bolt can be removed......time consuming.....

The other two ways are to remove the throttle body OR loosen the crossover pipe studs(studs tend to break) and move the crossover pipe away from the lower bolt.....

I used Kroil and map gas for the studs and all 3 nuts came off easy. I would like to see what that tool looks like to remove that bottom bolt if you don't have to remove anything...

[lesterl]

gutta fix it, I just use an open end wrench on the harder one.......

Of course I do have the Throttle Body off when doing that.

[Tech II]

Well, I get in there with a wrench to just break it free.....then I have a very small 10mm quick wrench, an back it off a bit.....then I can get my fingers in there and rotate that sucker out of there with my finger tips(can do this because the engine is cold, and can put my hands on that crossover pipe without getting burned).....trick is to do the bottom first.....then when you get that stud out, wire brush the crap off those threads and lube it......goes in very easy that way with the fingers....then the quick wrench snugs it....and then an open end 10mm wrench gets the final tightness...

Like I said, it is time consuming and takes a lot of patience, but it can be done this way.....before I got the quick wrench, I used a small open ended mechanics wrench......could only get 1/6th of a turn, and then would flip the wrench, get another 1/6th of a turn....talk about time consuming.....the quick wrench made it easier....

[lesterl]

Originally Posted by Tech II

Well, I get in there with a wrench to just break it free.....then I have a very small 10mm quick wrench, an back it off a bit.....then I can get my fingers in there and rotate that sucker out of there with my finger tips(can do this because the engine is cold, and can put my hands on that crossover pipe without getting burned).....trick is to do the bottom first.....then when you get that stud out, wire brush the crap off those threads and lube it......goes in very easy that way with the fingers....then the quick wrench snugs it....and then an open end 10mm wrench gets the final tightness...

Like I said, it is time consuming and takes a lot of patience, but it can be done this way.....before I got the quick wrench, I used a small open ended mechanics wrench......could only get 1/6th of a turn, and then would flip the wrench, get another 1/6th of a turn....talk about time consuming.....the quick wrench made it easier....

Yup, and make shure you buy a good 'stat and boil it with a candy thermometer to verify its operation before installing it, because you only want to do it once, not several times in a row.......

[GuttaFixIt]

Originally Posted by lesterl

gutta fix it, I just use an open end wrench on the harder one.......

Of course I do have the Throttle Body off when doing that.

I did the same but I used a 1/4" ratchet with socket on it.

[GuttaFixIt]

Originally Posted by Tech II

Well, I get in there with a wrench to just break it free.....then I have a very small 10mm quick wrench, an back it off a bit.....then I can get my fingers in there and rotate that sucker out of there with my finger tips(can do this because the engine is cold, and can put my hands on that crossover pipe without getting burned).....trick is to do the bottom first.....then when you get that stud out, wire brush the crap off those threads and lube it......goes in very easy that way with the fingers....then the quick wrench snugs it....and then an open end 10mm wrench gets the final tightness...

Like I said, it is time consuming and takes a lot of patience, but it can be done this way.....before I got the quick wrench, I used a small open ended mechanics wrench......could only get 1/6th of a turn, and then would flip the wrench, get another 1/6th of a turn....talk about time consuming.....the quick wrench made it easier....

That would take forever... Just as easy to take the throttle body off and buy a $3.00 gasket. lol
But I see how you do it without taking a lot of parts off.