when i do it i release tension on the belt and unbolt the whole pump bracket from car, leave pump attached. 2 bolts underneath and 1 more either side and whole thing comes off engine in 1 piece.
Well i changed the thermo and the bottom hose coming out the radiator was still cold, got the temp gage to stay at 90 and blow hot, the odd occasion it blow cold, the pressure built up in the hoses and when i unscrewed the cap of the expansion tank the water flooded out, there was deff no air lock as we got it all out. The pressure was building up due to the head gasket as gone, so new head gasket to be done tomoz, plus redoing the valves and seals etc. Then I would have rebuilt the engine. lol. Glad I got a very good mate who is a mechanic and very cheap. Thank god hehe.