Thermostat Help/Diag Needed!

[firebirdycamaro]

I have a 96 3.8L firebird and the problem I have is when I'm driving I get a strong smell of antfreeze and it is also present when i exit the vehicle. And just yesterday my car would be running at abnormally high temps then spike up to the red (260+) then come back down. It continued to do this for the whole drive. Is this a thermostat and low coolant issue? How do I go about changing out the thermostat? Can someone please help me?
Thanks in advance I really appreciate all you guys and your wealth of knowledge!

[Morley]

With the coolant smell and spiking temps I'd check the water pump for signs of leakage. The temp spikes could be a thermostat but the coolant smell is either a leak (possibly boiling over and out the overflow) or even worse...blown head gasket.

[Genopsyde]

also, since you smell it while driving, check underneath the passenger side floormat and see if it's wet with antifreeze. if so, your heater core is leaking.

[mikeemon]

The spiking and dropping temps are many times signs of air in the system.