1999 Pontiac Montana Thermostat replace

How hard is it to change a thermostat in a Montana? It looks as though the exhaust manifold is in front of the thermostat housing.
Thanks for any guidence.

You might check out this thread (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=483274).

Removing the cross over pipe is the recommended way in my Haynes manual and IIRC, the shop manual. Someone in the above thread though said that you can replace it though with just removing the throttle body.

It is done, and and the trick is yes, you need to remove the throttle body, the top bolt to the thermostat housing is easy, but the bottem bolt is harder, keep in mind, the bottem bolt does not have to come out all the way. The thermostat housing on the bottem bolt is slotted, just make sure that you get the right thermostat, the hight makes the differance in getting the housing back on, without removing the bottem bolt completely.
If you need a more detailed help, send me an e-mail, I will be happy to help.

It is done, and and the trick is yes, you need to remove the throttle body, the top bolt to the thermostat housing is easy, but the bottem bolt is harder, keep in mind, the bottem bolt does not have to come out all the way. The thermostat housing on the bottem bolt is slotted, just make sure that you get the right thermostat, the hight makes the differance in getting the housing back on, without removing the bottem bolt completely.
If you need a more detailed help, send me an e-mail, I will be happy to help.

Throttle body can stay right where it is folks. You might want to take the air box out and then the pipe between that and the TB, but it can be done with out taking the TB off. I would not suggest a Gates green label thermostat as the head is too tall and you will have a heck of a time getting the housing back in there, but it can be done. We are talking thousands of and inch for clearance, so take your time. I have done several of these and none of them are easy, but it can be done with a little patience.