I did the pull the threaded tube out method and it was really
easy.  No loosening or stressing the hoses, no spilled coolant,
etc.  I found the big nut on the threaded tube holding the cooler up
to the block was actually barely tight.  I might have stopped the
leaking just by tightening that.  I used the top part of an oil
filter as my second nut.  I had one from BD that got mashed in
shipping and they replaced it for free, so I just cut the top off of
it.  You could use an old one too, but that would be messy.  Anyway,
it was a very easy job with this method.  But I wonder if it would be
a good idea to replace those hoses anyway for most of us.  They seem
like ones you don't want to deal with on the side of the road.

Edward

At 08:24 PM 7/27/2009, Dave Arthur wrote:
>I thought I'd ask the question before I started work ... :-)
>
>'86 2.1 MV
>
>I have ordered a gasket (modified O ring) that goes between the engine block
>and the heat exchanger that is mounted above the oil filter. It seems to be
>relatively straight forward, remove the oil filter, remove the nut on the
>oil pipe, lower the exchanger and replace the gasket.
>
>The reason I'm doing this is that there is always a drip of oil in this
>location. I could torque the nut on the next oil change, but I'm thinking a
>cleanup and new gasket may be better.
>
>Do the coolant hoses need top be removed or is there enough slack? Opinions?
>
>Best Regards
>
>D