I'm stumped on something and hopefully someone can help.
I'm trying to remove the thermostat, but this bracket connected to a hard pipe (for the ACV) is preventing me from lifting the thermostat straight up.
I tried to rotate the thermostat but that damn bracket is preventing me from getting much travel.
And I lightly pushed the hard pipe to the left, but it doesn't have a lot of play.
Of course the service manual says it'll lift straight out.

How did you guys manage to get this out?

 

i had the same problem. i bent this piece of metal and with rotating the thermostat housing it came out.

just make sure you bent it just enough to get some clearance.

let us know how it goes.

 

You were able to bend it?
Damn... that thing wouldn't bend for me!
Did you heat it up first?

We are talking about the same piece... right?
The thick bracket that is one piece with the ACV flange?

 

i bent just the metal part, not the whole piece.(i didn't heat it)

if i remember correctly i had also someone pull the whole part(the bottom is a metal pipe) at the opposite direction and with bending the metal + rotating the thermostat CCW it came right out.

 

I finally got the thermostat out.
Ended up grabbing the ACV flange and nervously pushed it back.
Doing this raised the bracket far enough from the thermostat so I could rotate it counter-clockwise and remove it.
Attached it a pic showing how I grabbed the flange and pushed back.
I'm sure this isn't the ideal way, but I couldn't get it any other way.

 

thats exactly how i did it.

i didn't want to give you a lot of confidence pushing it back and break it

are you installing mazmart thermostat?

 

LMAO... no, I was bored and wanted to see how difficult it would be to remove the SSV valve without taking out the engine.
I actually got the valve sliding out, but the lower half of the thermostat is in the way.
I think I reached the point to where it would be easier to just remove the engine

 

This is all good practice for the project we have to do this winter.

 

you have to remove the air pump mounted on the fender panel, then unbolt the air pump supply tube (the hard pipe) from the exhaust manifold (two 10mm nuts), the t-stat housing will then lift off easily

there is a metal gasket between the air pump pipe and the exhaust manifold, but you reuse it without issue. Just be sure to tighten the nust up properly when you reinstall them. Use a 1/4" ratchet/socket so you don't overtighten and break the studs off the exhaust manifold.

 

Awesome... thanks for the tip TeamRX8
But do I really need to remove the air pump iteslf?
It didn't appear to be in the way, only the ACV.