You should be concerned about those top t-stat housing bolts stripping.
( actually the brass nut in the lower plastic part spins in the plastic )

but do this - spray the bolts a lot with really good penetrating oil, Bead
Blaster if you can get it, it's considerable better than the others.
Next.....give each bolt a not too hard but sharp whack with a hammer and
drift.
Last time I dealt with a 90, they came right out.

If a bolt spins, or the nut plate is spinning in the plastic lower
part............using a very small grinding wheel, grind the bolt head off.
Then get the t-stat cover off.
Then grind the bolt off flush.
Then drill through it so you have a hole now, and not a nut plate
arrangement.
Then use a longer bolt with nut underneath on the outside.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Steven Johnson
Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 9:49 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Thermostat change

Hi All,

  My temp gauge is not going up in the cold weather like it should and I've
  been looking in the archives for a good procedure.  I know they are there
  but I cannot seem to find one with the archives or google searching.  Can
  anyone out there point me in the right direction.  I'm most concerned
about
  getting the top bolts off without stripping them.

  Thanks for the help!

  Steven
  90 Westy

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