New thermostat housing

[California Dreamin]

So relieved It's done and neither of the allen key bolts snapped in the head....

It was touch and go on the top bolt....the head of the allen key bolt was on the verge of rounding off so I litterally chiselled off the housing (broke it into about 4 pieces, just leaving the bolt and sleave out of the housing.
Big pair of mole grips on the sleave at the same time levering with the alley key socket and it came off (you know the instant when you're not sure if the bolt sheared or has actually turned..poo moment!) it had turned, thank god..!!
This was after 3-4 applications of penertrating fluid over a few hours, knocking an chiselling at the bolt heads to shift them.

I clamped everything (Both feed and return to the rad, the header tank, two smaller pipes ....used about 5 clamps and various implements to isolate the engine so only the coolant in the engine was lost (about 2.5 - 3 litres max).
Re-assembling and filling up the housing with neat antifreeze before refitting the thermostat....that way even before starting the engine I knew that the system was 95% primed...
Ran it for about 20 - 25 minutes before the thermostat finally opened..bled it at the radiator a couple of times before and then after the stat had opened....fans clicking in and out, heaters are hot, jobs a good'n.

The only reason I am posting this is 'Relief and satisfaction' as I know this could so easily have turned into a nightmare.

Martin

[billy739]

good job

and no mention of jacking the van up or parking on a slope to bleed it mythbusters busted!

[California Dreamin]

Billy...I don't know where all that rubbish comes from...I don't ever remember doing any of that back in the 80's when these were new...
However, on some VW's, we did use a tecnique of unbolting the header tank and tieing it up higher to aid with bleeding.

I honestly think the best method is to do what I did and clamp off all the hoses...I know this means having access to extra clamps but it keeps all the front section full of coolant and requiring just a small bleed.

Martin

[Ian Hulley]

Sadly some of use don't have this 'level ground' thing ?? so have to do it on a slope.