Jaguar Repair: Thermostat and stuck bolts, bolt holes, water rail

Question
Hi Howard,
I have kind of a big problem, wondering if you could help.  I went to replace my thermostat in my 1985 XJ6VDP.  Two of the bolts came loose but one is completely rusted and stripped.  I took it to a mechanic and they couldn't get it out without potentially messing up the thermostat housing and removing the intake.  Do you have any ideas or experience with this problem?  How hard would it be for me to remove the intake and water rail to get the parts off of the car?  

Thanks for your help.

Blake

Answer
Hi Blake,
That was a common problem on the XJ-6 as water leaked past the gasket and into the bolt holes and corroded the two long bolts. There is no need to remove the intake, as the thermostat is in the coolant rail bolted down on top of the intake. I have got some loose by removing that rail and using a torch to heat the area where the bolts go through. Some came out and others the bolts broke off but even then I managed to get the housing off and drill and rethread the holes. Only one or two did I need to put in a heili coil to get threads back in.
Howard