Thermostat Survey

[tooomuch2]

What temp thermo are you running and in what application?

I like the Mr. Gasket super flows... 180.

and you?

[dave571]

I'm using a 160 "stant" brand in my van.

I like to keep it as cool as possible, because it get's pretty hot under that doghouse. Not much air flow.

[Stoga]

It depends on the vehicle, I prefer 180' thermostats in my classic Mopars sometimes 160, if the car tends to run a bit warm. Whatever the manual calls for on my later model vehicles. One thing for sure, before you install ANY thermostat, boil it in a pot on top of the stove with a meat thermometer, so you are sure it opens when it is supposed to. I got a whole series of bad thermostats once, supposed to be 160s, but wouldn't open at over 210 degrees! Thats when I started to checking them before installing, if you find just one bad one, it'll save you a BUNCH of aggravation, especially when you think the thermostat is ok, because you just installed it..

[Chuck'64]

That is the most brilliant thing I have ever heard I am having overheating problems and ruled out the thermosat because I just replaced it! Thanks for the tip.

BTW I run a 180 (or supposed to be)
Chuck

[Fast One]

160

High performance street.

[rb77413]

All my older Mopes, I always switch to a Stant 180. From our 273 Barracuda, to our 400 B200, to our built 383 in the Vert. However my dak runs the stock 190 for now

[rumblefish360]

Where can I find the Mr. Gasket super flow stats? Or who else makes a high flow stat? It's time to change mine out.

[tooomuch2]

rumblefish -

I have always bought mine through Mancini racing...

I would think they would be available from multiple sources as Mr. Gasket is pretty std. name... I just have never looked else where...

[MoJoe]

rumblefish, if you can't find the Mr. Gasket, you can also use the Stant Super Stat......similar qualities and available in most parts stores........Advance, Autozone, etc.

By the way, I use the 180 degree.

As an added note, everyone, make sure you're running a full shroud and that the fan is spaced out so that it's completely inside the shroud. I run a 7 blade factory fan on a thermal clutch. (moves a lot of air) I just have the factory temp gauge. While running down the road, the needle would stay on the 1st line from the cold mark. But while sitting still, especially with the A/C on, it would creep up to the 3rd line. I noticed that the fan was positioned about half way outside the shroud.....got a one and a half inch spacer (7 bucks @ Advance) , installed it, which moved the fan out so it was completely inside the shroud. Big difference. Now, while sitting still, the needle only goes to one and a half lines (sometimes two on a hot day). Now I have no worries when I want to let it idle to keep the A/C on and the interior cool.

MoJoe

[1972roadrunner]

i use 180 in the winter, and switch to 160 in the summer...

me and dad have been thinkin about building a shroud out of aluminum (we are liking the stuff...built switch box for NOS and a "fuel cell" like casing around a 2gallon gas jug to fill with racing fuel...also for NOS) shroud for my fan, and my brothers... if i run a 180 thermo in the summer (kansas gets hot, just yesterday here was around 102 and windy...) then the engine runs around 190-200...

also, my water temp guage (after market mechanical from advance) is going into a water jacket in my intake next to the thermostat housing...is this a good place?

[dave571]

72rr

That's exactly where it's supposed to go

[1972roadrunner]

just makin sure...we had a heck of a time gettin the plug out...the impact was having troubles, then the threads came with the plug (aluminum) sumthin was stuck...so we tapped it and put the thing in...

the electric sender unit was on the back of the block, i think giving block temp or sumthin so we weren't too sure...

[Stoga]

Got the chance to follow my own advice today. My 68 Imp coupe has always ran just a hair warm, so I decided to flush the system, change the hoses, typical maintenence stuff. I put the 180 degree thermostat that came in the car in a pot of boiling water, and it was only barely opening at 200 degrees!
I guess that explains why it was a little hot tempered. I believe once it ran awhile, the thermo would come all the way open,and it would be ok. But I think getting things in order will help chill things down under the hood some.

[cuda66273]

Thermostat? what thermostat? We don't need no stinkin' thermostat....

We run the 318 with no stat, dual electric fans hooked to temp sensors through relays and bypass switches just in case, electric pump. Leaves the line after the burnout at 180 and runs to 195 at the stripe...cools down to 180 by the time we get back to the staging area....

Tried a stat, just made the motor heat up to over 200 even after we tested the stat to 180....I guess it didn't like the restriction.

We also eliminated that little bypass hose with some pipe plugs.

Here's a tip for you Guy's, use a 1/8th drill bit and drill 3 holes in the flange of the stat, just inside the sealing ring, this allows water to circulate during warm up, elimiating hot spots in your heads and gives the air a route to escape during filling..no more burps.

If your running aluminum heads you need to drill that stat, they are notorious for hot spots around the combustion chambers. This will also alow a small amount of water to circulate if the stat should stick.