okat to remove two top nuts off engine?

[Arthurdaily]

Hi all, I want to change my thermostat housing as it is corroded, but it is 'trapped' under the water return pipe for the heater, thus I have to lift that but as you know it is held on by two of the nuts that hold the top of the engine on... is it okay to remove just these two to pull off the metal pipe so as to remove the thermostat housing, or would it possibly cause the top of the engine to flex thus ruining the head gasket?

Thanks!

[beero]

Can you post a photo so we know which two nuts? My heater pipe is held on by manifold nuts and is nowhere near the thermostat housing.

[Arthurdaily]

Hi, yes it is held on by two manifold nuts - it sits directly above the thermostat housing - can't get a photo at the moment.

[Moggie94]

The one holding the pipe section?
If so I've just had to change the gasket and I was fine removing them, be sure to expect it to squirt out when you take the pipe off though...

[Arthurdaily]

lol - I will, thanks!

[chrisryder]

Can you post a photo so we know which two nuts? My heater pipe is held on by manifold nuts and is nowhere near the thermostat housing.

as far as i've noticed, 948's seemed to have the heater return pipe on the manifold side, and the 1098's went to having the pipe across the plug side of the rocker cover, held down by two of the head nuts.

in the past i've removed the two nuts to remove that pipe, and not suffered any problems from doing so. the head gasket did go after that... but it went between 3 and 4 at the back of the engine, so unlikely to be due to removing those two nuts.

if you've got a torque wrench, be sure to torque them up when you refit the nuts.

[Arthurdaily]

Thanks for the advice.

[les]

I have fitted this pipe on top of the 2 nuts that you mention. There was enough of the stud passing through the nuts to allow a couple of thin(cut down) nuts to then hold the pipe in place. Maybe you would be able to do this on reassembly, for future needs.

[bmcecosse]

NEVER loosen head nuts..... manifold nuts - yes, no problem there.