I'm going to swap out my OEM thermostat for the Nismo one tomorrow. My question is that, the Service manual says "Remove water drain plug at the front of the cylinder block" and "Remove water drain plug on water pump side of cylinder block", where are these drain plugs located?

I read the service manual, however, the drawing locations are very sketchy.

Please help!!!

 

Now I'm no expert because I haven't done this before, but I don't believe that you need to use the drain plugs on the engine block, as long as you know what you're doing to "burp" the system, get the air bubbles out etc.

 

Just drain your radiator and forget about removing the plugs

 

+1

 

Would that be sufficient enough? I don't want to F up anything.

 

^You'll be fine. Just drain the radiator, install thermostat, fill radiator and go through the burping process.

 

just be 100% sure all the air bubbles are out there is a special way your supposed to do this. If you let sit there and idle and your heater doesnt blow really hot then you still have a air bubble if you can jack up the front of the car when you filling it and fill it very slowly i know it sucks but its the best way if you dont have a coolant evacuator tool.

 

Thanks guys for all the help. I'm gonna go start now. Wish me luck, and I'll let you know what happens.

 

+2. Drain the rad, remove the lower hose, and r/r the thermo. Eaazzzy.

The harder part, is taking the time to purge the cooling system.

 

Take directions, then u will not fu&k up the quick install, just burp the hoses when you re-add antifreeze to the cooling system. I have read on this site people who have problems with the heater after replacing the thermostat do due not burping the system.


It is just as easy as it sounds..............

 

Thanks for all the help guys. The install went perfect. All systems are normal as usually. Heater works perfect, took me all day to bleed and purge the system.

 

How did you purge the system? I'm also swapping out my Rad and Thermostat next weekend. In preparation, I found this:

"Do not bleed the air at the radiator. There is a bleeder on the passenger side inline in the hose behind the engine near the fire wall. Run the car and then turn the screw a few turns eventually you will see it bubble until coolant comes out not just air. Close and let run for a couple more minutes and do this again. Repeat as needed."

 

I pretty much went by this DIY that I found... http://crackaddict.com/~flynn/howtos...amco.howto.htm

When you replace the thermostat make sure the gasket sits properly otherwise you will jack up the gasket like I did and have leaks. What I did with the second gasket was that I added very little dabs of RTV silicone sealant to the thermostat so the gasket would stay in place.

 

And run the Heater

 

Congrats. That gasket was as PITA.

 

Awesome write up! Very informative. Thanks!


Will do. Thanks!

 

Here is some pics: the first is what happened to the first gasket, the rest are after install and complete. Enjoy.

 

Friggen nice (and clean) engine bay!! A work of art!

 

Thanx.

 

+1

Very clean & professional looking indeed!! :-)