thermostat

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

thermostat

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

I wanted to get a 160 for my little-block but the guy at GM Performance said they don't offer one as they don't recommend running one in a small block. I would assume the same goes for the big block. What about running an electric fan?

67BBSD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

correct me if I'm wrong does a big and small block chev not take the same thermostat ?

don't make a 160 because its not recommended ? sounds like a cop out-new engines are suppose to go to operating temperature so they list a 195, we always changed 195 and 160's years ago just the non car guys used 180's so they didn't have to change them each season

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

160 was the standard thermostat in the summer when I was a kid in the parts store.

GM offered one for years. I would try one if I were you. I can check if GM still offers it, because in my opinion, GM stats are superior to any other I've ever tried.

SD 396 · Poncho Master!

I don't recall ever running a 160 thermostat.
Does the car run at 205-210 all the time? Does it make a difference when you are driving around in town or on the highway?
The best thing you can do is have a clean cooling system. If it is hot driving around town or when you are at idle a good clutch fan or a flex fan and a proper fitting shroud will really help.
Maybe your car always ran at that temp you just didn't know.

68post · Poncho Master!

I've always run 160 thermostats in my "old stuff". The last 10 years or so, I've been buying the fail safe models that'll stay in the open position if they crap out.
Carl, how about getting your hands on a laser temp gun to verify what you're gauge is reading?

Barry

65Camino · Uber Guru

I installed a 160 in the El C just before leaving for Woodward. All the way down and back it ran around 180. Never any cooler. Should it actually run at 160?

Only in traffic did it go higher.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

3041424 is the GM number, or AC Delco 131-1 for the 160 stat.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

It's interesting that there is a Delco PN for a 160 t-stat when the guy at GM performance didnt recommend
running a t-stat that cool.

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

Thanks for the number Carl ,and Todd how old was the parts guy? lol I remember my Dad always switching to a 160 in the summer.. My car does not overheat or start hard,when hot ! I idles around quietly or goes like a bat out of hell, when needed It does not have a shroud, has a new rad now, and does not have a clutch fan, although I scooped one off Todd "new" 427+ motor today... anyway the problem idea

started when I installed a guage.. lol I tried a electric fan, but it came unpluged, when I drove, out of the garage weirdface

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

69Laurentian wrote:

It's interesting that there is a Delco PN for a 160 t-stat when the guy at GM performance didnt recommend
running a t-stat that cool.

Did he state a reason?

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

I didn't talk to him personally, as it was the parts manager I previously worked with who spoke to him. He said he was told it wasn't good for the block -something about thermal expansion. The parts manager isn't a car guy so he may not have gotten the reason straight..

macsleuth · Guru

hmm, how far is the fan from the rad?
How well does the shroud surround the rad?
What's the timing on the engine?
Are you running a tranny cooler?
Do you have a higher than factory stall converter?
Just some questions that pop to mind.

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

Got the new AC Delco 160 thermostat in today!! Car runs great !!!!! now instead of running 205-210 it runs a consistant 220 LOVE these old cars!! Now I remember furious

why I left it sitting in garage the last two years.....

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

And that's with a new rad and a new thermostat???

What's up with it? When did it start running so hot?

My 427 4 speed 66 that I had years ago always ran about 215. My 427 TH400 A/C car I had at the same time always ran about 195, maybe 205 if I left it idling with the air on for a while.

The air car was a .030 overbore, the 4 speed car was still standard bore. I have always heard that the thinner walls made an engine run hotter and yet it was opposite for me. They had identical 4 core rads. Go figure........

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Carl, try to find a laser thermometer to determine what the temp actually is. I wouldnt trust the gauge

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

Carl; the car does not overheat.. you can leave it idleing for a hour!. It starts on the first turn.. The engine is 30 over with a wild cam tamed by Rhodes lifters, with a trick ACCELL dist and Hedman headers, and a 650 Holley .. I think I will throw away the guage... Todd;I have a rectal therometer, will that do? It is a pain in the gas... biggrin

-- Edited by 427carl at 20:56, 2008-08-21