Need help changing thermostat please.
 

Ok fellas. I know I might seem dumb for asking this, but I cant get to the thermostat housing bolts to take it off and change the thermostat. The blazer is a 95 with a 4.3, and I cant get the wretchet in there. There seems to be a some kind of a support member in the way thats located right behind the AC compressor? extending to the bottom of the alternator. I cant get no tools down in there to unbolt the damn bolts, and its just straight up pissin me off. Whats a way of doing it, anyone!???

any one???

Wow... You waited an hour... Did you ever consider removing that bar that is in your way??? Probably not since you were so impatiently waiting... In the future, do not bump a post until you have waited at least 24 hours. After all, rules are rules.

first thing is to take the air intake tube off, its right in your way, next is to remove the belt and then the upper radiator hose on the thermostat side and with a 3/8 universal joint, a short socket and 6 inch extension you should be able to get at the bolts. hope this helps.

Yes, I have tried to remove it. But, the bolt that was on the upper half could not be taken out due to the ac compressor being right there. I loosened it but there no way I could have taken it out without taking apart a bunch of other things including loosening the belt. And I dont want to play with that because I dont know where the tensioner is etc, its above my scope of knowledge. Its not that Im impatient, a bunch of other posts started piling on top, didnt want this one to be forgotten I guess :)

See, I was thinking about the universal joint but I dont have one. Ill buy one this week and give it another try I guess. Thanks for the info.

I wouldn't worry about where the tensioner is. It's going to end up being whatever tension it is. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and take stuff apart enough to do the job. You'll find out it's quicker that way most of the time. Besides, just think of all the valuable experience you'll be getting. Do you have a service manual of some kind? That would be the first "tool" I would get.

this link doesnt help him, he has a 95 blazer which has the CPI motor in it and the thermostat location is diffrent.

heres what you need.....

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/5073/200901312.jpg

the bolt that is in the box is the tensioner release bolt, its a 15mm and i believe that you turn it counter clockwise to take the tansion off of the belt.

Yes, I do have a s10 repair manual. However, it doesnt tell you how to gain access to the thermostat. Just basically shows you where it is, but how to actually gain access to it, I found is not as easy as it described.

Thanks for the pic, now Im a lil more clarified. Honestly, the belt even isnt that much of a problem for me. If you look in that pic that you linked me to, theres a support bar right behind the tensioner and in front of the thermostat. That is whats really in the way and hindering my access to the thermostat. Is there a way to take that out or just give it a try and use the universal joint with a short socket to get on the bolts?

I dont know where the other end of that bar goes, you may be able to take the tensionioer off and gain access to it but im not 100% sure of that. i would try the universial joint and a short socket first, its the easiest way IMO