Not without a little drama as usual which I'll get to. I just couldn't help myself, I decided I'd turn it down a bit. Stock should be 63 mm which is 2.48". The Motorad/Valucraft 4128 is supposed to be 63.5 mm which is an even 2.5" Mic'd the 4128 and it's 2.51". Got a drill bit that just fits loosely into the tube, wrapped some paper towel around it and pressed the T-stat on that. Got a big ole flat, medium-fine metal file, layed it on the workbench, set the tool box on the end to hold it still and away we went. Didn't put much pressure on it and didn't spin it too fast so it took a while. I did use a variable speed power drill though. Took it down to 2.49". Took the burr off by hand. Just like downtown! Billet Technology would have been proud of this baby. Got the rest of the tools together, beer (St. Pauli Girl for radiator work), and my magnetic work mat. I wasn't going to make the same mistake that dumbazz made in the video and drop a bolt (foreshawdowing). Towel underneath, bag in place and broke the seal, waited till it stopped dripping, removed the housing, adjusted the bag and broke the T-stat loose. Just a note here. There is a lot of coolant that's going to come out at this point. Doesn't matter if the cap is on the bottle or not. I was starting to worry about the bag overflowing but there isn't anything you can do at that point. If the kids had been there they'd have been running for another bag. It quit. I'd say my bag was a good 4/5 full instead of 1/2 to 2/3 like in the video. The difference was that my coolant was close to the max line on the bottle. The T-stat came out and the gasket stuck to the housing. Gently worked it with my fingers and it came loose in fine shape. Cleaned that up a bit, set it on a paper towel and went to soak up a bit of coolant in the housing so it would stop the slow drip. The kids show up. I get back to it, the paper towel is sort of flapping in the breeze and... THE FRIGGIN GASKET IS GONE! Crap. Can't see it. Get a flash light and my retriever -- this is one of those absolutely must have tools. Flexible spring tube with a plunger at one end and 4 spring steel prongs that come out and open when you press the plunger. Let go of the plunger and the spring steel grippers will grab ahold of anything. I can see half of it showing all they way down. Fumbled with the gripper and it disappears. chit. Have to jack up the right front of the car and with the wheels all the way right I manage to reach it without having to drop the pan. Talk about a perfect fit! Just a snug press fit with medium finger pressure. No screw driver required here. Cruise on the freeway and it's dead solid at 186*. It works! Note: Emptied my catch can while I was at it. 940 miles and 20 ml of oil so far. Got me one of those short, fat, wide mouthed baby bottles with the graduated markings on the side to accumulate it in.
Haha Dave, had to do it huh? Good work. I see you are preparing for the arrival of your Pred...btw get it yet? You WILL love it.
I don't bust my knuckles any more. I've found that if you bust your knuckles, most likely, you either don't have the right tools or you're going too fast (at least with a car that hasn't been neglected). Step back, take a drink of your beer and meditate on the situation for a while. Then try it again. :beerchug:
