Hi guys

Today my stock thermostat has failed so right now I'm running without thermostat so. Which thermostat can be a good option to keep the car has a normal temperature and improving mpg?

 

180* will work, or you could try a 195* which will improve efficiency. If it wasn't overheating before you should be fine with a 195.

 

180*

 

The car has never overheated so I want to try with the 195* thermostat. What kind of precautions should I take?

 

Just peek at the temp gauge from time to time while driving, if it clears 225F think about pulling over and killing it. That's about it!

 

i like the 195, myself.

 

OK everyone.......... I have my Mopar 440, putting out around 490hp..... going into a 2 core aluminum Griffin radiator.

Electric fan that kicks on automatically around 180degrees (I can adjust this).

Currently running a 180 degree thermostat...... after banging around the neighborhood a bit, the car got up to about 210 degrees...... I was mainly doing about 30mph, nothing fast.

1- How hot is TOO hot?
2- What temperature is normal to be running around?
3- Should I have the fan kick on sooner? Later?

Thanks everyone!
~Phil

 

220* Max-Max.....
I think you said the motor was fresh.... Some of this is gong to be from friction and will go by the wayside as the engine break's in.
Was the radiator Sized for the H.P. rating? If not game on !!!!
If the cooling system was sized for the H.P. rating. I would say bring in the fan around 160*. Double check that the fan shroud 'If that's what your using" is pulling from the whole rad. and that there in not a flow restriction in from passing threw to the radiator.
If all that is good.... Try a Bottle of "Water Wetter: the help with the temp..
http://www.springsnthings.com/

Keep us posted...

 

j -

Odd man out here. I'm running a slightly heavier 440 than hckrphil, and using a 160* stat. The temp usually stays around 160* with a 4 row Griffin and a bottle of Purple Ice (yeah, it works).

Newer cars seem to like about 225*, but I'd start getting edgy over 210* on the older motors.

BTW - DO NOT use Mr Gasket stats. The freeze shut more often than not. The "stock" STANT stats are pretty bullet proof in any temp size.

Archer

 

OK, so here is what I did tonight.... cracked open the thermostat housing and verified in boiling water that the 180 degree thermostat IS working correctly.

I then drilled a 1/8" hole in the thermostat as I've heard many talk about on here.

Put it all back together with a new gasket.

I then topped off the radiator the best I can (main radiator cap is under the front cowl, so I have a mid line cap / filler).

I then ran the car around the block 3 times to warm it up.... temperature hit 180 and seemed to never go over that. That is an improvement... tomorrow night I'm hoping to run it a little more to verify.

On another note... I'm still trying to figure out the best way to start this motor when cold. pump it twice, let it fire up and baby foot the throttle till it gets up to a consistent idle. Is my choke not adjusted correctly? Should I have to pump it and lightly push on the gas till it gets going a little?

Thanks everyone!
~Phil

 

phil -

Don't know what carb or fuel pump you have, but at least with a double pumper, a couple of full pumps with get the engine going, and then you will have to use your right foot to keep the rpms up, until the temps begin to normalize. That's usually just a minute or two.

BTW - I'm running a Holley 850 DP without a choke on the 440.

Archer