1974 Mustang V6 Bolt Problem In Thermostat Housing

I've changed mine in my 2.8 and it pretty much just fell out when I scraped off the gasket. Maybe someone epoxied the bastard in there? With the 2-piece housing removed (both the front and rear housings come off) you should be able to put something in there from behind and punch it out.

Second, are you sure it's actually a thermostat you're trying to pull? People have been known to remove them on the 2.8 for better cooling. There's also a flow restrictor in there if I recall correctly, embedded into the timing cover. Hopefully you're not trying to pull that?

Worst case you'd be pulling the water pump, that's what the thermostat sits against. It's on the front side of the housing. The two sides of the thermostat housing sandwich the water pump and timing cover together. You can still get the rear housing as a replacement by the way. And the bolt-sizes you need are listed at the link below as well.

http://mustangii.net/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19534

The 2.8 is a European-made (German 'Cologne v6') Ford engine (from the Capri). It's a really neat little motor but it's an oddball for sure as your first Ford! Nothing most people know of Fords (Windsor v8's) applies at all.