Hello all,

I'm prepping to replace my leaking thermostat housing with an aluminum housing and replace the coolant lines and plastic bypass piece.

For anyone that has attempted and successfully changed their thermostat housing rear bolts, I know quite a few have mentioned using an 8mm crowfoot or bending a wrench as in @Gus JaguarRepair.com post; I was wondering if a flex head 8mm wrench would work?

I'm always about getting proper tools that I can use in the future. It seems like 8mm crowfoot wrenches are few and far between, and people want $20+shipping for one piece where I can get a flexhead metric wrench set for the same price.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/6x8mm-17mm-...frcectupt=true

 

My preference is to break the housing with pliers, then remove the screws. For assembly I use socket head screws and a ball drive attachment.

 

I removed the housing on my 2001 XK8 without breaking it using a quarter inch drive with a universal on an 8 mm socket. Tight but possible.





It was also the cost of a crows foot that made me persevere!

Graham

 

FYI, the 8mm. wrench is same measurement (size) as a 5/16" Std tool. I looked forever before I located the info . Google 8mm or 5/16", they are same. Several Std. inch wrenches fit their same metric counterpart. Hope this helps with cost issue... My Lugs are 22 mm or 7/8". :-)

 

The problem with the tool you listed is that when the bolt starts coming out you do not have enough room to remove the tool from the back bolt to do the other one.

 

As I recall I used 1/4" drive swivel socket. With these cars with all the small fasteners I would advise purchasing a set of swivel sockets, There are reasonable priced quality sets on Ebay. Actually breaking the damn thing sounds like a good idea.

 

I took the inlet manifold off - so much easier and you can renew the hoses that sit under it at the same time.

 

I second RJ237:

 

+1
Extra work, but unless those valley hoses have been replaced recently, they will be due to start leaking soon
MUCH easier to get to the tstat tower rear bolts...

 

When I did mine I bent an 8mm combination wrench. I used a vice to hold the wrench and Mapp gas to heat it. Couple of raps with a hammer and done. Was a lot easier to bend than I thought it would be.If you have an old 8mm laying around give it a try.

Cheers!