one eyed willy

where is our thermostat located? is it in that lower plastic peice that the 3 hoses run into? how hard is this to replace?

hammeron

it's actually pretty easy to replace,
probably more messy than anything

one eyed willy

where is it located? i just ordered a 160 degree replacement along with a electric water pump

hammeron

ok this pic shows the two
possible locations, depending
on your model year

disregard the 07+ pic, that is for
a different coolant crossover design....

one eyed willy

my 07 looks way different than those pics, ill take a look in the morning,ive done alot of searching on google to find something.

guess ill be doing another write up!

partsbill

hope this helps.
Thermostat — 4.6L (3V)
Removal
1. Disconnect the battery ground cable
2. Drain the engine cooling system.
3. Remove the Air Cleaner (ACL) outlet pipe.
4. Remove the accessory drive belt.
5. Disconnect the crankcase vent tube from the intake manifold and position it aside.
6. Remove the 2 generator support bracket outer bolts.
7. Remove the 2 lower generator nuts and position the generator and wiring harness forward.
8. Loosen the 2 generator support bracket inner bolts and position aside the generator and wiring harness.
9. NOTE: RH thermostat cover bolt has a slotted flange.
Remove the LH thermostat cover bolt and loosen the RH bolt.
Position aside the thermostat cover and hose assembly.
10. Remove the thermostat O-ring seal and the thermostat.
Discard the thermostat O-ring seal.

Installation

1. NOTE: Lubricate the O-ring seal with clean engine coolant.
Install the thermostat and a new O-ring seal.
2. Position the thermostat cover slotted flange under the RH bolt and install the LH bolt.
Tighten to 10 Nm (89 lb-in).
3. Position the generator and wiring harness.
4. Tighten the 2 generator support bracket inner bolts.
Tighten to 10 Nm (89 lb-in).
5. Install the 2 lower generator nuts.
Tighten to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft).
6. Install the 2 outer generator support bracket bolts.
Tighten to 10 Nm (89 lb-in).
7. Connect the crankcase vent tube to the intake manifold.
8. Install the accessory drive belt.
9. Install the Air Cleaner (ACL) outlet pipe.
10. Connect the battery ground cable.
11. Fill and bleed the cooling system.

illustration break down
1. N807309 Generator support bracket outer bolt (2 required)
2. N804758 Generator nut (2 required)
3. 10300 Generator
4. W503279 LH thermostat cover bolt
5. W503279 RH thermostat cover bolt
6. 8594 Thermostat cover
7. N806807 Thermostat O-ring seal
8. 8575 Thermostat

SECTION 303-03A: Engine Cooling 2007 Mustang Workshop Manual
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Procedure revision date: 07/25/2008

hammeron

that looks like quite a process on
the 07+ models.....thanks ford

one eyed willy

took a gander at it and it doesnt look to bad, shouldnt take but a few minutes to swap it out. i was concerned becuase the 05-06 has that housing infront of the radiator down low,but i dont have that housing on my 07. i just have a plastic 3 way tee, so at least i wont have top drain the whole radiator. im planning to do the water pump,thermostat,under drive pullies,cmdp and tune all in the same day. should be fun.

sevenleaf

I installed a 160 degree thermostat about 2 weeks ago and very happy I did it my coolant temps are about 20 degree's lower. I made no adjustments to the fans.

I have a 2007 but can't help since I had to install a new thermostat housing for the saleen blower.

one eyed willy

awesome,thats what im hoping for,between the new thermostat and a electric pump i should be covered,i get pretty high temps when im sitting in traffic and becuase the electric pump wont slow down at idle i should be good. plus at the track i can let it circulate water with the motor off.