Thermostat Housing Bolts

[2manyfords]

My old '88 Ranger 2.9L 2wd needs a new thremostat.
It still has the original one in it.
The truck used to be my dads and was bought brand new so I know for a fact that it has never been changed.

The bolts do not want to break loose.
Any idea on how to get them out without breaking them?

 

[Dangeranger3]

PB blaster worked for mine. I don't know what it will take to break em ( loose or off) but I would soakem, wait, wrench em. Mine had to soak for about 24 hrs before they moved "easily"

 

[AllanD]

Ok, I'll be perfectly honest

Expect to break atleast one.

Expect to have to remove the fan and water pump pulley to get
a straight shot at it with a drill. (I'm assuming the bottom will break
because it's the hardest to get at with a drill)

You will have sticker shock when you go to buy a 6mmx1.0 helicoil kit
but it has other uses.

After you get the helicoil kit you should helicoil ALL THREE t-stat
housing bolt holes.... trust me you'll regret not doing it next time you
go to replace the thermostat and you break off another one.\

In the words of Carole Smith "A steel bolt in an aluminum casting is a crime against nature for which someone is invariably punished"



AllanD

 

[Ranger5.0]

AllenD pritty much sumed it up right there....im not sure who thought steel and aluminum would work togeather, but they need a slight tap in the nards

 

[2manyfords]

Thats what I'm worried about.
If they do break, drilling steel out of aluminum is going to be a bitch.

I'm going to try an air chisel with a centre punch attachment on the bolt heads to try and loosen them up.

 

[kunar]

i broke 2 off but i was lucky enough to get vice grips on what was left and actually unscrewed the broken off chunks...