5.0 T-stat replacement August 22, 2007, 01:10:35 AM Well I'm having a tough time with thermostats this week, first the Cad-T-Bird and now the LTD LX.The Cad-T-Bird took about 5 minutes but the 5.0 in the LTD was a bitch. Who designed this thing? Both of the bolts are hard to get to but the bottom one is very hard. Plus it fought me the whole way.When I put it back in the bottom one was impossible to start for me so I gave up and went to Home Depot and got a couple of allen head bolts to replace them. Not a perfect solution because it is not a straight shot but I found out that a T40 socket fit a 1/4" inch allen at a angle just fine.And lets not even talk about how much fun it was to install the new by-pass hose.I also purchased a new OX2 sensor but guess where they put that. Right at the rear of the passenger side manifold, on top, under the AC hoses and air pump hose. Near impossible to get down there. I'm getting 16 in town and 22 on the Highway and I think it should get a bit better, so I guess I'm going to have to figure it out.Also must be fun to change the spark plugs on the passenger side.The Cadillac 500 is easier to work on by far but I got to admit that I have no-AC, no pollution control, no extras. Also I don't get anywhere near 22mpg.Just had to vent.TED Quote Selected
5.0 T-stat replacement Reply #1 – August 22, 2007, 09:37:58 AM Ted,Bring the LTD LX to the Meet! (And I agree, 5.0's suck to work on stock) Quote Selected
5.0 T-stat replacement Reply #2 – August 22, 2007, 09:44:40 AM Yeah, that lower stat bolt is a PITA. I eventually chopped down a socket to be able to get it loose, and the previous owner had cut a slot in the bolt to allow for a screwdriver to get it out the rest of the way once it was loose.Dumnest.Design.Ever. Quote Selected
5.0 T-stat replacement Reply #3 – August 22, 2007, 10:55:22 AM Just remove the timing cover, piece of cake... :hick:Like most other things it's what you get used too... I install the bypass hose and T'stat housing at the same time... Trim the hose till it's 1/4" short on either end, generally no big deal... Quote Selected
5.0 T-stat replacement Reply #4 – August 22, 2007, 05:20:54 PM Well at least it wasn't the heater core:hick: Quote Selected
5.0 T-stat replacement Reply #5 – August 22, 2007, 06:40:06 PM I can change a heater core in an hour.Thanks Eric for that knowledge. Quote Selected
5.0 T-stat replacement Reply #6 – August 22, 2007, 07:30:03 PM I used a line wrench on mine. The open end allowed me to slip it past threads and being more closed than a regular open end wrench it stayed on the bold head a little better. So I'd give it a turn, drop it down the threads to turn it back and lift it back on to the head. Yeah it was still a pain in the ass but at least it was a little quicker and I didn't drop my wrench as often. Quote Selected
5.0 T-stat replacement Reply #7 – August 22, 2007, 09:41:31 PM yea I couldn't get the bolts off and my temp gage hasn't worked since I got it since my t-stat is shot, but Im getting it fixed by my friend who works at a exit since I don't have that many tools to do it, sad thing is its a really easy job if u got the tool.. but I agree a very poor design to change it. Quote Selected
5.0 T-stat replacement Reply #8 – August 23, 2007, 10:43:21 PM I like the screwdriver slot idea, this would have saved me a trip to home depot.TED Quote Selected
5.0 T-stat replacement Reply #9 – August 24, 2007, 11:04:22 AM Quote from: Cad-T-Bird 500;171619I like the screwdriver slot idea, this would have saved me a trip to home depot.TEDYou don't have any wobble extensions or sockets??? Quote Selected
5.0 T-stat replacement Reply #10 – August 24, 2007, 08:53:18 PM Quote from: TurboCoupe50;171703You don't have any wobble extensions or sockets???I do but you cannot use them on that lower bolt. The most you can get on there is a crow's foot. The hardest part was trying to hold it and start the bolts at the same time; just not enough room for my hands anymore. The allen headed bolts did help.TED Quote Selected
5.0 T-stat replacement Reply #11 – August 24, 2007, 10:30:51 PM Quote from: Cad-T-Bird 500;171799I do but you cannot use them on that lower bolt. The most you can get on there is a crow's foot. The hardest part was trying to hold it and start the bolts at the same time; just not enough room for my hands anymore. The allen headed bolts did help.TEDI feel your pain about the hands thing. I have rather large "banana hands" if you will:D brian Quote Selected
Topic: 5.0 T-stat replacement (Read 1549 times)
previous topic - next topic
