Chevrolet: Chevy Venture Thermostat Location, chevy venture, themostat

Question
I have a 2002 Chevy Venture 6 cyl. engine. The car suddenly has no heat and the engine is running hot. I am almost postive this means that the thermostat likely is not opening and closing as it should needs to be replaced. I bought the themostat and tried to install it, thinking that the thermostat would be where the hose from the radiator to the engine ends. But when I  got the hose off - no thermostat! Is this a case where the thermostat is embedded in the metal housing of the piece that I pulled the hose from? If so, I'm sunk, because detaching that piece from the engine block will be darn near impossible. I guess in short I'm asking - where is the location of the thermostat on a Chevy Venture? Thanks!

Answer
 HI T0M;
        OK you have it right , it is under the housing that the rad. hose was going to, that comes off and it goes under there. I wonder was anything frozen when it was not getting hot, check the two hoses that run to the left side into the fire wall. If both of them are hot when the car is warm than you should have heat,if not there could be something stuck or if you have a heater hose by pass  switch in the hose that runs to the back firewall to the heater core that could be stuck.I wonder if you have enough antifreeze. what you are telling me sounds as if it could be frozen up someplace.I would  check the antifreeze temp.  OK