Basically the question is as the title states, is it possible to remove the thermostat from the housing to ease flushing coolant? I have read that some aren't removable (don't remember what years). Is the 02 one of these, or is there a way to seperate the stat from the housing even though they are supposed to be changed as a unit?

 

Yes, see photo below. Once you get it out, push on the body of the back and rotate the guts out of the two aluminum slots as seen in the photo. Reverse for re-installation. Note, there is no shim in the stock unit. This photo is from a DIY I wrote some time back on lowering the opening temperature.