Well, figuring the thermostat hasn't been changed since my '78 280Z left the factory decades ago (and it hadn't), I took the task of pulling off the 30 min quick job...which has now turned into a multi-day project (since it's now parked/stuck at my buddies apartment instead of my driveway).

My problem: I took the upper part of the housing off after snapping one of the bolts (closest to the head) off. Other one was rusty as all hell, but I babied her out fine. So, I get the cover off and pull the thermostat, clean off the old gasket, yada yada, and then to the task of extracting the remainder of the other bolt. Well...I'm still on that task... after PB Blaster, vice grips (which has grinded the bolt into what looks like a rectangular object now), hammer and screwdriver, tapping, back and forth, brute force, jedi power, hopeful wishing...everything. I've got a small propane torch, but I'm kinda hesistant because it's so close to fuel lines :dead: so I'm lost. I'm tight on time as I need it back to the house (baby due any day now), but I'd like to prevent having to replace the entire housing and run the risk of breaking those bolts! Any other ideas that I haven't seen on the search engine? Thanks!

Originally posted by TrojanOreo

EDIT: I was browsing the MSA catalog, they have one for $30. Not too bad considering it'll be new. Anyone bought one or anything mechanical from them? I've bought tons of cosmetic stuff from here already with no complaints (except of course, some of the prices) but figuring it'll cost close to that at the junkers, I'm thinking why not. Any input? Thanks for everyone's help through this!

Sorry to hear about the leak. Is the housing cracked, or did you drill through the housing wall?

When driving the car home, leave the radiator cap loose so there is no pressure in the system. That will minimize any coolant loss, but watch the guage carefully.

The T-Housing that I bought from MSA turned out to be a Nissan OEM T-Housing. no problems with it.

When you take the car to a shop, be prepared for them to break a bolt and as a result charge you more than the original estimate. It may not happen, but IMO there is a good chance it will. Those bolts are notorious for turning to mush over the years.

Good Luck!

Originally posted by TrojanOreo

I was browsing the MSA catalog, they have one for $30. Not too bad considering it'll be new. Anyone bought one or anything mechanical from them?

Any input? Thanks for everyone's help through this!

Be careful you don't get bit by the 'bug'.... you know, the bug that makes you take something else off and clean it since now you can't have this new part bolted up next to the dirty old stuff... 6 years later you are still looking at all the nice shiny parts that can't go back on until you do this or that to the chassis...

Do yourself a favor and throw the new t-stat housing around, get it dirty and then bolt it up...

This is what I did to my new one I bought from MSA...

Also, don't forget to get yourself a new temp sender (the single bullet in the picture) from them as well...

Good luck...

Wayne

Originally posted by wal280z

....don't forget to get yourself a new temp sender (the single bullet in the picture) from them as well..

Wayne is right, you'll have a fun time trying to remove the water temp sensor from the lower housing. All those years of hot/cold cycles and the fact that brass and aluminum dont mix well. Get factory Nissan parts for the sender if you can, the set I bought from VB wasnt even close to original. Dealer got them for me no problem.

Get some antiseize and put some on all the bolts for the thermostat housing. If you ever have to change the t-stat again you'll be amazed at how easy the bolts will come out.

My .02

Chris

Gents - I just experienced the same issue with a broken bolt on the thermno housing. I've just started working on cars and figured replacing the old worn thermostat was easy preventative maintainance.

Whoops!!

The bolt closest to the drivers side snapped off. I tried everything to get it loose and wound up drilling it out. I drilled through the bottom of the housing straight down in the same direction as the bolt. I put in the new thermostat, put on the new gasket, and used a sheet metal screw on the drilled out screw hole to hold it down nice and firm.

It didn't seem like drilling through the bottom put a hole between the fluid chamber and the outside world. When I start the car and rev it it doesnt take long for a fountain of fluid to come pouring out. I can't tell if it is coming out the new bottom hole or along the gasket.

I have never performed this operation. Am I supposed to use some sort of gasket sealer or is in just the hole I poked getting me? I can order a new housing but would prefer not to. I have an inspection appt Monday to get it finally registered.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

Be careful you don't get bit by the 'bug'.... you know, the bug that makes you take something else off and clean it since now you can't have this new part bolted up next to the dirty old stuff

Funny stuff there Wayne!

I just bought a new housing from VB so I'm just gonna replace the whole lot..........

Be careful removing the housing from the head.