Picking the collective brains of wedgedom

[c pryor]

Whats involved in replacing the thermostat ? Could it be tackled by a complete mechanical novice (me !), and can it be removed without disturbing the distributor? ( Its a 390SE)

[Wedg1e]

Two bolts, new gasket, five minutes. Put 'stat in with jiggle pin to the 12 o'clock position, don't overtighten bolts, make sure mating faces are clean (and 'stat housing face is nice and flat).

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

Be a bit longer than that, as your need to drain the water, re-fill and get the air out.
but quite a easy DIY job.
Try and get a good quality gasket, the best one is the metal one with gasket on both sides.

[GV]

You might want to make sure you are running a stat for the summer temps which open at 75 instead of 90.

[Wedg1e]

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

Be a bit longer than that, as your need to drain the water, re-fill and get the air out.

Doh!

[TOPTON]

Wedg1e said:

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

Be a bit longer than that, as your need to drain the water, re-fill and get the air out.

Doh!

Wedg1e doesn't need to drain the water as it all accidently came out when he took the stat housing off

[Cerberus90]

GV said:

You might want to make sure you are running a stat for the summer temps which open at 75 instead of 90.

We drilled a few holes in ours in the 1600M. While driving the temp only reaches about 65-70 ish,

[adam quantrill]

You don't have to drain all the water, just to the level of the stat housing.

Or else put a catch pan under the engine, take it off and catch the runoff.