Engine Lower thermostat housing bolt

[Larry4123]

Hello, I just bought a '79 Jeep CJ5 , i6, 4-speed, to add to my "old car" collection, I am NOT a mechanic, but I like to play one on weekends. This CJ has not been driven in a "few years" so I thought I'd just change all the fluids and rebuild the brakes (they felt like mush when I drove her up my driveway) before anything else. I very quickly ran into a problem. The 30 minute radiator/coolant flush and thermostat change showed me, what I sure will be, the first challenge. The bottom thermostat housing bolt is in terrible condition, the threads are all "boogered-up". I can remove everything from the front of the engine and use a Buckingham thread chaser to try to repair the threads, hopefully. I have looked and can not find anywhere, is this bolt that sticks out of the front of the engine block part of the block or is it threaded in (engine stud)? Can this bolt be removed and replaced without drilling the block and tapping the hole?

I searched the forum and did not see any threads about this. Several threads looked promising, but I was unable to open them to read.

Thanks,
Larry4123

 

[shum8]

It’s been a long time since I messed with an I6, but I don’t remember a threaded stud there..... but that in no way means it’s not there. I would be surprised if it were cast in place - I would expect it to have been placed after the fact into a threaded hole. If that’s the case, penetrating fluid and heat may help. Worst case is install a heli-coil to repair the threads. I’m spitballing here.......


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[NP435]

Should be a bolt finding the exact replacement may be fun or buy one close in length and cut it down.

 

[Larry4123]

Got it out! It was a stud and took about a week of WD-40 twice a day. I grabbed it with a vice grip at the collar and worked it back and forth and it eventually just let loose and unscrewed. Replaced it with a bolt, no more studs.

Thanks for replies.

 

[CJ]

Glad to hear this!