krash kendall said:Don't be confused. A thermostat only controls the minimum operating temperature of the engine, not the maximum temperature.
84convertablegt said:I have a rebuilt slightly warmed up engine (289) in my 65. I couldnt get to car cool enough with a 180 and a stock rad. I switched to calibrated 160 from Mr. Gasket and still ran hot.
D.Hearne said:Not all T-stats will keep an engine at the rated temp of the T-Stat. Use the one that keeps it closest to the temp you want it at. On my 89 Ranger, a 160 degree stat keeps the engine around 190-200.
I'm fully aware that the radiator in the Ranger's too small, but it's all that will fit. Also why I posted what I did. Run the one that lets the engine run closest to what temp you want it at. Not all cooling systems are equal or up to the demands you put on them.67coupe351w said:Most likely your radiator is not sized correctly to cool your 331.
Another option is the T-stat is mislabeled or malfunctioning. It goes back to what I said in my previous post. If you have an infinitely large radiator your engine will run at T-stat temp always.
Since none of us have infinitely large radiators (but rather close to properly sized..usally on the small side) our engines will run around T-stat temp a good amount of the time (mild weather, mild driving, ect.) until our radiator capacity is pushed to its limits...whether it be from ambient temps increasing during the summer (some noted their cars run hotter in the summer than winter) or from driving like a bat out of a very hot place (making your engine produce full power, more power = more heat).
It sounds to me from reading the above posts that the best rule of thumb is this:
160 = band-aid for under-sized radiator.
180 = good for carbed vehicles.
195 = good for EFI vehicles.
67coupe351w said:It sounds to me from reading the above posts that the best rule of thumb is this:
160 = band-aid for under-sized radiator.
180 = good for carbed vehicles.
195 = good for EFI vehicles.