Changing the #@%$* thermostat on a 3100; what's the trick???

[95Achieva]

Any tricks on replacing the thermostat on a 3100? After a few hours I managed to work around the throttle body, exhaust manifold, egr, and a couple other obstructions to lloosen the two bolts holding the thermo housing on. Then I realized that the exhaust manifold is less than a half inch away from the thermostate housing, which will make it impossible to remove since it would have to be pulled a little bit away from the block to clear the thermostat itself. Is it necessary to remove the exhaust manifold to get the thermostat out? Is this a GM engineer's idea of a sick joke?

Any info from someone who has changed a thermostat on these engines would be appreciated.

[bszopi]

Take the TB off, take the top bolt off, loosen the bottom bolt, then slide the housing off.... took me about 5 minutes last time I did it.

[v6h.o.]

exactly what brad said. heaps easy that way.

[95Achieva]

Take the TB off, take the top bolt off, loosen the bottom bolt, then slide the housing off....

Thanks for thew replies. But will the thermostat housing slide off sideways without being lifted away from the mounting surface to clear the thermostat? The exhaust manifold is about 3/8 inch away from the thernostat housing, making it impossible to lift the thermostat housing away. If the thermostat housing can be slid sideways from its spot to remove it, no problem. But if the housing needs to be pulled a bit away before being slid away, there isnt any room.

[bszopi]

It can slide sideways enough to clear the bottom boltand then just tilt it (it'll clear the exhaust) so that it can clear the part of the thermostat that sticks out. You might have to wiggle it alittle to get it all to clear, but it will eventually.

[95Achieva]

Thanks...i'll give it a shot.

[green_souljah]

I replaced my g/f's, without removing hardly anything, I thought about removing the throttle body, but didnt.

It took me 4 hours.

I cut a wrench in half to deal with the limited working space.




In hindsight, take the bloody throttle body off, you will be much happier!