Excuse me but did you read my post? Removing the housing is not the problem. Getting the bleeping thermostat out of the housing is what I asked about. Anyway I got it out after prying with a screwdriver and now getting the new one in is the new problem. How in the hell do you compress the heavy spring and turn the thermostat to catch the 2 metal tabs at the same time. This is the stupidest design POS that I have ever seen. Why is the thermostat in multiple pieces in the first place? Why not just do it like the rest of the world with a 1 piece thermostat that fits in a recess. As far as the twenty five bucks is concerned.......I called a couple of autoparts stores and none even had a listing for a LS V8 thermostat. They said it must be a Ford only part.
no i didnt read your post, i skimmed over it,
Removal
1. Drain the cooling system. For additional information, refer to Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding in this section.
2. Remove the thermostat housing. For additional information, refer to Thermostat Housing in this section.
3.
NOTE: Thermostat can be rotated in either direction to release it from the thermostat housing.
Using a 18 mm (0.7 in) open end wrench, simultaneously push down and turn the thermostat retainer to release it from the housing.
4. Remove the thermostat spring, thermostat main spring and the thermostat element.
Installation
1.
CAUTION: When installing the thermostat into the thermostat housing, make sure to align the thermostat pin with the hole in the housing.
Position the thermostat into the thermostat housing.
* Be sure to install the small end of the thermostat spring toward the thermostat housing.
2.
CAUTION: After installing the thermostat into the thermostat housing, make sure that the tabs on the thermostat retainer are locked into the tabs on the thermostat housing.
NOTE: The thermostat can be rotated in either direction to install it in the thermostat housing.
Using an 18 mm (0.7 in) open end wrench, simultaneously push down and turn the thermostat retainer to install the thermostat in the housing.
3. Install the thermostat housing. For additional information, refer to Thermostat Housing in this section.
4. Fill and bleed the cooling system. For additional information, refer to Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding in this section.
