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[Webby the Bear]

Evening guys. Getting through the omega jobs  next month is a trip to WIM for a proper set up. Then thermostat change.

I know TB hates doing v6 cam cover gaskets. Well this is the job I personally hate doing.

When I last did this a few years ago I wasn’t as experienced and when the B bolt went in it went in not very nice at all. I’ll have to double check but it held the transfer pipe well enough that it’s not been a problem. However it got me thinking..... wtf would u do if you buggered the B bolt hole threads in the head? Obviously ideal repair is a helicoil however as u all know access is shocking. It’s been a while and I’m trying to picture it all in my head but if the worst happened what about a length of rubber coolant hose to replace transfer pipe?

Your thoughts my esteemed colleagues 😘😘😘

[Doctor Gollum]

Only two years and it needs changing again... 

If the bolt is a dog to fit, then it's not lined up correctly.

No point guessing how much you mullered it until you've got it out

[Webby the Bear]

Nah it’s been a lot longer than two years. Five id guess.

It was more preparation for worst case 👍

[Webby the Bear]

Ps where do u crazies get ur stats? I will buy new transfer pipe too.

[Doctor Gollum]

Bought mine from the US... Very nice dealer in Jacksonville, FL

[BazaJT]

'Stat I bought off E-bay,transfer pipe was re-usable[with new "O" rings but I have a used transfer pipe and two new "O" rings[bought if memory serves from Biggriffin]as back up just in case.

[amba]

After some researching as I needed 2 new O rings for coolant pipe they are a NLS item so will need to be an online source and expect to pay dearly for them.I found a new transfer pipe that came with O rings so made the purchase seem less heavy .
Stat and body housing came from Amazon and was around £25 delivered and was marked as Motorad,but when arrived had the part number ground away so probably genuine GM and had been sold on .Do remember there are 2 stat bodies either the thicker shouldered type or the flat ,each has its won specific rubber seal .
I cant see why you couldn't use a straight house from the stat housing secured with a jubilee and other end connected to top house maybe with the correct part of the transfer pipe that way you retain the correct thickness.Cant really see why you couldn't get the tread to regrip with maybe a thin wind of ptf tape as its hardly under much load and almost just tight is enough to keep everthing in place,
Im sure you will be fine and it will all go back just right .

[Marks DTM Calib]

The O-rings are a pretty standard size, should be able to get them for pence from a decent seal supplier

[Sir Tigger KC]

I think I reused the O-rings one time, but with a smear of Hylomar (other brands are available...) and it was fine. 

Although I might be thinking of something else I bodged up!   

[Nick W]

My stat was Wahler, £12 from Ebay. It was the same as the original that was on the engine, right down to the same casting flash although someone had made a half-hearted attempt to grind off the GM part number. I used the O-ring that came with it, and a smear of sealant. I managed to separate the transfer tube, and reused those O-rings with more sealant.


The threaded boss for the bastard bolt was broken in half, which caused me some concern for the first couple of months. But it lasted another six years without the bolt, including replacing the top hose twice(I fitted a spare in very poor condition while the new one was on order) and replacing the head gaskets.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I also used a Wahler stat for the same reason,which also had the GM logo almost ground off. Transfer tube can be a bit pot luck, so its a good idea to have a spare to hand in case its needed.

[Webby the Bear]

Right kids had a quick fiddle with my b bolt  it was tight as fook 🤣🤣🤣 I undid it. Made sure it was turning nicely. And tightened it back up to a more reasonable torque 🤣🤣🤣 can’t remember why I thought I’d shagged it. 🤔

Anyway I rang vaux and all parts available for reasonable price.

Nick r u saying u didn’t even have a b bolt or anything holding the transfer pipe? Lol

[Nick W]

Nick are you saying you didn’t even have a b bolt or anything holding the transfer pipe? Lol

that's right, no bolt. For years.


I was going to make a clamp that attached via one of the exhaust manifold studs, but it proved not to be necessary.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Once the pipe has ben seated in the stat housing for a while its highly unlikely to detach itself. I suppose the bolt is just belt & braces really.I thought about leaving mine out once, but bottled it. My reasoning was that with my luck, mine would be the one that came apart or leaked.

[Webby the Bear]

Thanks guys. That’s interesting. I’ve done a shed load of stats and housings on the Peugeot cars with a similar set up (albeit the transfer pipe runs to the water pump and is at the back of the engine) and if you don’t get the clip in correctly it won’t just leak a bit... it’ll empty all the coolant in seconds! Ask me how I know this 🤬

Thinking out loud but I wonder how easy it’d be to move the stat. So in my head I’m thinking keep the original housing in situ with stat removed. Pipe. Stat positioned just before upper hose. Then upper hose. Not sure of logistics but would be nice and serviceable!

[dave the builder]

Thinking out loud but I wonder how easy it’d be to move the stat. So in my head I’m thinking keep the original housing in situ with stat removed. Pipe. Stat positioned just before upper hose. Then upper hose. Not sure of logistics but would be nice and serviceable!

we used to do that on Astra 8 valve engines because some idiot designer hid the stat behind the timing belt 
there is a Renault stat that fitted inside the top hose on those
the mod ran the engine slightly warmer ,with slightly better running costs
I've not looked at the V6 in detail enough to know if a similar mod would work, when my stat plays up,I will look

[Andy B]

....

Thinking out loud but I wonder how easy it’d be to move the stat. So in my head I’m thinking keep the original housing in situ with stat removed. Pipe. Stat positioned just before upper hose. Then upper hose. Not sure of logistics but would be nice and serviceable!

I wouldn't say it'd be worth it. I had my Omega for eons & did 90k and only needed to change the 'stat once.

[Webby the Bear]

Cheers all. I’ve had the car 10 years and been through two lol

[Andy B]

Cheers all. I’ve had the car 10 years and been through two lol

[Doctor Gollum]

Cheers all. I’ve had the car 10 years and been through two lol

Buy a better thermostat and change the coolant more often than Tunnie washes his car... 

[Kevin Wood]

....

Thinking out loud but I wonder how easy it’d be to move the stat. So in my head I’m thinking keep the original housing in situ with stat removed. Pipe. Stat positioned just before upper hose. Then upper hose. Not sure of logistics but would be nice and serviceable!

I wouldn't say it'd be worth it. I had my Omega for eons & did 90k and only needed to change the 'stat once.

Only changed mine once in nearly 200k.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Same 'ere, though it was me that had to do it, (at approx 180k, now on 209k) it was when they had genuine Wahler ones on ebay with the little GM half-ground off. A few people bought them off here as I remember.

[Nick W]

Thinking out loud but I wonder how easy it’d be to move the stat. So in my head I’m thinking keep the original housing in situ with stat removed. Pipe. Stat positioned just before upper hose. Then upper hose. Not sure of logistics but would be nice and serviceable!

you would need some sort of housing to hold the stat. That would be a fairly bulky thing in an area already crowded with service(or parts that need to be removed) parts. An Omega might need two replacement thermostats over a twenty year life, so the time and hassle of moving it simply aren't worthwhile. And it's already in the best place, in the coolant in the engine.

[TheBoy]

Once the pipe has ben seated in the stat housing for a while its highly unlikely to detach itself. I suppose the bolt is just belt & braces really.I thought about leaving mine out once, but bottled it. My reasoning was that with my luck, mine would be the one that came apart or leaked.

This is my worry with not fitting the B-bolt (or otherwise securing the xfer pipe...