Yes, Sir!

I did as Master Grant instructed. (Even before seeing clarifying posts from Doug and Grant. Because by now I learned to trust to do what they say!)

Drilled the hole through the 'S', installed t-stats with the hole up at 12 o'clock, put new gaskets, closed everything up, filled with new coolant. (Man, this cat is thirsty! I kept adding and adding and adding the coolant. And still keep topping off.)

Put the new oil filter and what seems like 11 quarts of oil.

The kitty is back on the road! Took a lap around the neighborhood. Next week will attempt a longer drive, and will keep watching the thermometer...

 

Oh, forgot to mention. Before installing new t-stats, I boiled them and measured how much they open. Both measured at 41.7 to 41.8mm when fully open. Not quite 43mm as reported by some here, but still sufficient to do the job, in my opinion

Again, huge thanks for all your help!

 

Faith mate, ya gotta have FAITH.

A quick blast to Hoover Dam and back will sort you and the beast, with a quick pitstop at the M Casino on the return run.

 

There are plenty of casinos within 3 miles of where I am But a trip all the way to Vegas would be nice one day. Desert, open road, V12,... Need to make sure a/c is ready before going south though

A trip to Reno, on the other hand, is definitely doable (keeping fingers crossed)