97 lumina 3.1l thermostat

i need to change the thermostat on my 97 with a 3.1L engine. do you have to remove the exhaust crossover pipe or the shield to get the thermostat housing out? how big of a job is this? any help would be great

If you can reach the lower housing bolt, there is no need to remove the exhaust crossover. The thermostat can be stuck into the intake which will allow just enough clearance for the housing. At least, that's the situation on a '96 191 V-6.

Same for 97.

so i can access the thermostat housing bolts without messing with any of the exhaust shield or pipes?

Sometimes yes sometimes no as Blue Bowtie mentioned, a flex socket is your best bet to try and clear the exhaust, you will not know till you try, right?

You can do it without taking the exhaust shield off. Remember that the flange is slotted so that the lower bolt does not have to come all the way out.

I took me a little over an hour to do the first time.

If your t-stat is stuck open, I'd recommend tapping the housing near the block with a hammer and seeing if you can free it up first. I've had luck with this method.

so i can access the thermostat housing bolts without messing with any of the exhaust shield or pipes? yes you can it is a pain i just went through it many very short turns of a wrench an u got it. now the bottom bolt on the thermostat housing does not have to be fully removed there is a notch on the housing for it to slide off. i know sounds easy but its not. jus take yor time so u dont damage anything:eek7:

You can do it after demography the bankrupt absorber off. Remember that the border is slotted so that the lower bolt does not accept to appear all the way out.
If your t-stat is ashore open, I'd acclaim borer the apartment abreast the block with a bang and seeing if you can chargeless it up first. I've had luck with this method.

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Thermostat (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/guidelines.html)