Ok... Maintenance help needed

[elwesso]

This week is going to be maintenance week for the Q...... I am at a shop, and there is basically every tool known to man here...... Anyway here is what I have planned.....

Change diff oil- Done..... It was super easy, I have a pump that screws right on top of the oil bottles, just a matter of pumping it until it filled...... And then torque the plugs......

Flush cooling systemChange TstatRemove TB and clean it/semi clean inside of the plenumChange fuel filterChange PS fluid- Also done, I had a really long pump thing that I could reach way down into the hose to get as much fluid as possible......

Ok, now here is the fun part.....

I dont have the right tools to do the TB (6mm allen, thats tommorrow hopefully), so i moved onto the Tstat.....

So here is what my plan was..... Ill take out the old stat, and then flush the cooling system from there...... When I was putting the Tstat cover back on, I broke off the bottom bolt, so a little chunk is stuck inside..... No biggie right, there is a tool to get it out and Ill just get some new bolts...... That is where I am at now, since I was feeling to lazy to figure out the tool..... So ill do that tomorrow......

Question is...... Is it possible I screwed anything up in the process of breaking the bolt.... I think I put it in there crooked, and it misthreaded, and i just kept tightening until it busted, i guess.... I couldnt see it anyway..... I was hoping it wouldnt make a difference, but when I went to fill it up there was water dripping out of the hole......

So..... Do youall have any suggestions for me....... I need to get it back up and running before wednesday.......

[DAEDALUS]

IF you cross-threaded it you might need to clean up the hole with a tap. Hopefully it'll still take a proper pre-load. If not, you'll probably have to install a keensert or helicoil. My guess is that the t-stat slipped out of its recessed pocket, and you caught the flange under the cover.

[elwesso]

See what happend was..... I took out the Tstat, and then installed the cover WITHOUT the stat in...... I wanted to have unrestriced coolant flow while i flushed it out.......

To be honest, I didnt have the right extension (too long, it was hitting the fan), so I said forget it and I just forced it in there.....

Would I be able to get some of those tools down in there??

I think part of my problem was I didnt remove the hose going to the Tstat housing...... When I go back in today, I will take it off, because I will have access to a hose puller.......

[elwesso]

Ok, update.......

I went back out there and tried to put the bolt in the hole...... And the threads going into the housing are stripped, not the bolt itself..... I lost one of the bolts (I think), so a trip to the hardware store is going to need to happen..... Is there anyway to retap the threads??

[DAEDALUS]

If the threads are stripped there's no way to use the same bolt size in the same hole, which is what I was getting at in my other post. You can retap the hole for a larger bolt, but that only works if the larger bolt fits in the hole in the cover. If not, then either enlarge the hole in the cover, or install a keensert or helicoil in the block. I prefer the keensert/helicoil fix cause you can use the same bolt and not have to worry about mixing up the 3 bolts in the future. But it requires more material removal, which might be bad if the hole is already near a thin or fracture-critical wall. The last thing you want it to break through the material separating coolant from oil.

[elwesso]

Ok.... I got that taken care of..... The threads werent stripped beyond repair, so I got an 8mm tap and redid the threads...... Works great!! Fortunately I am working on my car near people that know what their doing!!!

Here is my next concern...... I refilled the radiator, and I got a foamy looking substance when I took off the cap..... Is that just af/water being mixed up with air (ie i didnt wait long enough for the bubbles to escape??)

[90Q45blue]

I'm not sure about the foam but sounds to me like it is just being mixed with air. Flushing your cooling system should take care of this. I do recall a thread where someone found foam down around a coolant hose, thus indicating a leak. Be sure to check for leaks when flushing the system.

Also, Joe recommended that since my car had so many miles on it that I replace the Tstat housing when I replaced my Tstat. The upper housing is 58.33 and lower housing is 40.19 from Joe in case you were wondering. Also, I saw a bottle of RWW at O-Reilly's the other day, I remember you were having trouble finding some.

Nick

[Q451990]

The upper housing is 58.33 and lower housing is 40.19 from Joe in case you were wondering.

I'm not sure which parts you bought, but the t-stat housing (p/n 13049-60U00) was $24.90 and the pipe connecting the lower radiator hose and t-stat housing hose was $37.78 (13045-60U02). Both of these metal parts tend to corrode and look like barnicles are growing in them - Dennis calls them the "sacrifical annode" parts. Those parts and the t-stat hose 14055-60U70 for $9.36, and the t-stat ($8.71 21200-60U00) and have some RTV on hand and you should have it! All of these part numbers and prices are from my order back in February.

Heath

[elwesso]

I just replaced the Tstat.... That hose you were referring to had some barnacles on it, but it wasnt too bad.... Just little patches, not enough to affect anything.....

[elwesso]

Ok..... Now that I got that done......

Does the TB use a 6mm allen head...... We went to ace hardware and they only carry individual allens 7mm and up.......

Would running a can or two of seafoam or similar result as cleaning the plenum by hand........?

[DAEDALUS]

Yes, 6mm allen. Seafoam is a liquid and will oblige gravity more than dirt particles in an airstream. Sea foam is effective in the combustion chamber I think, but won't do much for the intake tract.

[elwesso]

ok..... Thanks

How did you get to the bottom 2 allens?? I had a heck of a time getting to them to realize i had the wrong size allen.....

Also, do you know if you can get the TB gasket at like NAPA or something???

[DAEDALUS]

Best to get a set of allen sockets, and for the bottom screws I just slide a ~6" extension straight through to the screw. I doubt Napa sells the gasket, but I've never asked. They do sell paper gasket material in rolls though. Not as clean, though, and for an intake gasket, where high-velocity air is present, clean is good. But it'll suffice for a little while till you can order one from Scottsdale.

[elwesso]

Ok..... Maybe Ill just leave the plenum cleaning for the next time im here....... I dont want to go and buy a whole bunch of stuff that ill use thrice at best.......