v6 thermostat

[William Magliocco]

Uh-huh, the thermostat is under a metal housing connected to the water pump.  The water pump on the V-6 is driven by the timing belt.  

Long story short...if you need an excuse to change the water pump and timing belt, this is a good time to consider it.  If someone has changed the thermostat without disturbing the timing belt, I would like to see how that is done.

You'll need the two special tools to change the TB; the jig that locks the two cams into position, and the special pin at the bottom of the engine that goes where the crank position sensor normally does.  With those tools it really isn't that bad (at least on the 12 valve).  I've done it twice and the engine lives.

Jim Blau rents the tool when you buy one of his timing belt kits...he's done right by me over the years.

HTH