- Jan 29, 2017
- 43
- 2
- 18
So I had sent my 88 GT to the shop to get a new cam installed and the head gaskets replaced due to the old ones being shot. So i also had a problem with wiring of the cluster so i had swapped a originall 85MPH gauge from a 88 in it to fix the issues i was having. Before it went into the shop and when it had the 89-93 cluster it would heat up and the gauge would over heat. Once i got it out of the shop i drove it pretty decent for a day or so with the old cluster in and it barely heated up but i didn't drive far just around town and dusting a few rice burners lol. Now with this new cluster i've drove it 2 times about 50 miles round trip at about 80 MPH and then getting on it around the mountains near me and the gauge will only read maybe 130 maybe 1 or 2 dashes above 130. I dont have any idea if its a 160 180 195 thermostat. Like i said it never over heated with the new cluster but the cluster does read that its moving. Also when i park it the rad cap is cool to touch. I've yet to be the dumbass and take the cap off after i drive it but in any other car the cap is usually at least warm. And i would think for sue this car would be warm and no its cold. If memory serves the engine its self is usually not to hot. It barely ticks when cooling down. Im typing this and sort of answering my own questions lol but id like to here what some of you guys think. Im mainly concerned because i bought the car and the gaskets were F'ed and in the back of my mind im freaking the F out all the time that the gauge isnt reading and that my car is over heating and i dont even know? Like i said as i type this im slowly ruling out the cluster because that would change that the cap or the engine is cool? If i drive my commuter to and from work the cap is warm. I would kind of just like some input to maybe whats going on? Would the car still overheat if the thermo was alwasys open when the gaskets were bad? If it was closed all the time it would get hot right? If its open it would stay cool? If its a 140 160 or a low thermostat the car would never get warm? Im kinda leaning towards the guy wanted to sell the car so he put a low temp thermo in it so it SEAMED to run cool until you get on it? Im going to invest in a digital temp gauge because i know that the stock "NORMAL" isn't very reliable, but in the mean time its going to have to do. Should i just fork out the measly $15 and change it to stock thermo? Orileys near me doesn't offer open box returns so thats kind of why im like ehhh.