O M G, biggest pain in the arse EVER?

[Project240]

Changing my thermostat. Holy HELL, I was swearing and throwing things and on the verge of breaking something expensive and swearing off cars forever...

Thank God that's done with...

[goofynick6]

LOL..I'm guessing teh engine was in the car? Otherwise it's pretty easy, just need some extensions.

Nick

[PROJECTRB240SX]

I feel your pain Project I did it with the motor in the car also.

[lyon23]

that makes 3 of us..

[DSMs_Suck]

damnit... i knew i should have done it while the motor was out.. o well i guess i have something to look forward to

[Project240]

DSM, your list of parts makes me jealous

[ibzbro]

you think that is bad you should try doing your clutch with out a lift on the garage floor in the middle of winter. only to **** up and have to do redo it in two weeks.

ask me how i know.

[rb250sx]

how do you know?

[ibzbro]

let me put it this way. NO ONE KNEW WHAT THE STEP IN THE FLYWHEEL WAS. so i had to figure it out on my own. i just find it hard to belive that no one here has ever changed there clutch before. btw the step is .008. you may not think this is very much but it means a world of difference.

[emperor_lunchbox]

DMS where did yo get the adapter box ?also is the box mated to the stock manifold?

[DSMs_Suck]

Project... THX I have everything but the wideband and 550s so Im gonna have to deal with low horsepower for a while, until I have the funds to get those 550s at least.

Itzbro:I agree completely with you. I changed my clutch when the motor went in also. I told the machinist that I thought the step was 8 thousanths and to get back to me on what it measured. He cut it and told me it speced out at about .007 to .008 so that number is definately right!

Emperor:My friend is making ALL of my piping including my intake pipe, full exhuast, IC pipes, and adapter box. I can ask him to make a direct copy of my adapter box and see how much he wants for it. YES, the adapter box does mount to the stock manifold, and would be flanged for a tial external wastegate.

TO all others:Any hints/suggestions/tips on how to do the thermostat with the engine in the car? Also the reason I didn't do it with the engine out is because NAPA told me they didnt show a gasket for the z32 thermostat, which I think is totally wrong. There is a gasket for it correct?

Murray

[goofynick6]

The Z32 gasket doesn't fit the RB, so I didn't use a gasket, just used some rtv type stuff..

[Project240]

Well apparently I didn't install it right because coolant comes pouring out of the damn hole whenever I fill the radiator so I have to redo it.

The problem is, the thermostat isn't centered perfectly in the hole, it's down a little bit so the housing won't torque down all the way. But, it won't stay centered in the hole while I'm installing the housing, the slightest little jolt will dislodge it

There wasn't any RTV between the engine and the old thermostat when I removed it, but do you guys think it would be a bad idea to put RTV there when I re-install the new one, to hold it in place?? There would be RTV sealant between the thermo and the engine, and also RTV between the thermo housing and the engine. I can't think of any other way to do it, besides trying to hold the thermo up with a screwdriver from underneath while I torque down the bolts with the other hand (which is damn near impossible, since there's like no room to get a hand in there )

[Project240]

Quick bump. I really need to know from ANYONE who replaced their thermostat while it was in the car, can I put RTV sealant on the thermostat itself, where it meets the engine block???

[GTR Shop]

Use a SMALL amount to stick it in.. JUST enight. Too much gets stick in the turbo bango lines.

[Projex240]

The problem with using the rtv stuff on the therm itself is that it can cause it to stick. just use enough to get it in place (barely any) and work from there. I avent done this on an rb--but my ka therm was doing the same thign ao i used rtv andit got stuck--big mess and huge pain in the ***. Good luck--BTW--would it be easier to do this by pulling the radiator out and working? Just a thought....

[Project240]

The radiator isn't what's in the way. The only real way to make it easier is to have, umm, the whole engine out of the car