Hey guys, just out of curiosity, can someone tell me what the temp range is on a standard gauge for a 66 coupe, 289ci. I don't have a numeric temp gauge, obviously, and was wondering what my temp is when the needle is close to the cold side, middle and hot side of the gauge. TIA.
Anywhere around the bottom end of the guage to the middle is going to be around 150 - 185. The upper half will probably be pushing from 185 - 225. The upper end of the guage will have the coolant coming out the overflow due to the low volume in the early radiators. I don't believe you can get to more than 195 - 205 before this happens.
Since I have one of these early cars (with a .060 over 302), I always carry water and make sure I can run the heater in summer.
EDIT: The guages are only a suggestion of what is really going on.