HEATING QUESTION: Thermostat

[Blown66]

Put in a 160, put in a 195...don't run a thermostat, drill a hole in a 180...well I am doing some maintenance on my hp motor and while I am there I am replacing a leaking thermostat housing. The car has been running pretty well, but anything past 105 degrees outside I usually have to park it or stop a few times on the way to where I am going.

Has anyone ever used this thermostat? Coolsafe 160. If it breaks...it breaks open...lifetime guarenttee etc...

Any thoughts? Any success with other products?

http://www.crucialracing.com/products/coolsafe.php

[Mr. Austin]

Finally a thread i have knowledge about.

Kenny, I have done the same on my car. it is a lot different still because u are running a supercharger. I have tried almost every thermo as well and thought it was my radiator at first got it re maned but turned out thats was not it. fan was doing an ok job but the issue was still apparent when driving at 80 MpH and that should not be occuring. I used a 195 (starting) went down to a 160 then a 185 and now i am running a 180 with 6, 1/2cm, holes and after the motor rebuild she is doing ok. In my case i heavily believe it was a slo water pump as it was the origonal. What kind of water pump do u have and whats the flow on it? (tehe) at 105* outside i 2 have to pull over and run the heater on high. Next thing going in will be an aluminum raditor. Got any extra of those?

This is the Thermo i am using and has been the best i have tried yet. Mr.gasket wasnt the greatest. WHen i put it is a smear a thin layer of red sealant on the disk.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EMP-301/


P.s. sorry if this didnt help.

[Blown66]

Not that it didn't help, it'll help others by talking about it. But I have a pro-street hp water pump so that won't be it, my fan could be bigger...but it starts withthe thermostat. BTW yes...your issue is you need an aluminum tank. :) Your fan should cover at least 75% of your raditor if it doesn't you need two electric (side by side) fans.

Thanks though.

[WildBill]

Not that it didn't help, it'll help others by talking about it. But I have a pro-street hp water pump so that won't be it, my fan could be bigger...but it starts withthe thermostat. BTW yes...your issue is you need an aluminum tank. :) Your fan should cover at least 75% of your raditor if it doesn't you need two electric (side by side) fans.

Thanks though.

Do you have an electric fan or a mechanical fan. With a mechanical fan you must have a fan shroud and proper fan depth for questionable cooling systems.

[fazm]

had a blown 289 in my shop a few years back, kind of the same issue. tried different thermostats with no good results.

threw in a fluidyne radiator (forget how many cores, but a good 3.5-4" thick) and 2 electric fans to come on around 175 and it worked great.

[Mr. Austin]

Sorry i just could relate so i thought if anything i can tell u what i did. And like i said you have a whole different kind of car but the issue may have related. My fan covers just almost everything but the corners. Obviously.. Since u know better than i do kenny; should i put my origonal shroud over my fan just to direct the air more?

[Blown66]

Wild Bill...yeah electric 2800, with a Griffin Aluminum radiator. So what theromostat if any do you suggest?

My heating problems aren't horrible, if it's under 105 out I can sit an idle all day without a problem. I am just trying to make a 12 month car. ;)

Austin don't apologize what you said was perfect (and yes btw you need to have a shroud...without a shroud you might as well take the fan off and blow through the front with your mouth). ;) When did you take it off? If you do have heating problems...that's your next investment...aluminum raditor and electric fan. You'll love life.

[Mr. Austin]

yeah it is my next investment. Well the fan has its own "sort" of shroud it is wrapped. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HFM-ZFU16S/

[WildBill]

Wild Bill...yeah electric 2800, with a Griffin Aluminum radiator. So what theromostat if any do you suggest?

My heating problems aren't horrible, if it's under 105 out I can sit an idle all day without a problem. I am just trying to make a 12 month car. ;)

.

Well...........with an electric 2800 and a large Griffin radiator and you've tried several stats, I'd honestly look at your water pump AND it's pulley.
If you install a 160* stat and it's fine at idle, then when you drive the car it overheats, there are just a few area your problem can be.
1. Not enough airflow
Do you have anything in front of the radiator? AC condenser, tranny cooler
2. Wrong rotation water pump
Serpentine belt water pump on a v-belt system or visa-versa
3. TOO MUCH antifreeze
Antifreeze is a poor conductor. Too much in the summer can cause over heating.........sounds silly huh?
4. Just not enough cooling system capacity for the given load.
Naturally a higher HP engine will create more heat.
5. Improper timing
Too little or too much timing can increase the heat in an engine

Other possibility is that you have some air in the system..........I'm grasping.
I've never heard anything bad about the stat that you posted.
How big is your Griffin?

[El Jefe]

Might check with Reische Performance. He just came out with a 170 stat for the Cobras thats amazing

http://reischeperformance.com/

[Blown66]

Thanks El...

Bill you said a couple of things that clicked with me...I do have an AC condense up front tranny cooler is flat so that is not an issue. Too much antifreeze is a real possibility. Because of the leak I've been adding antifreeze straight and I am guessing my 60-65% is A LOT higher now. What % do you think?

The other things are okay...but thanks for those reminders.

Okay one more time. :) What size thermo would you run or would you not run one?

[Rev'n Kevin]

Another thing nobody mentioned, when was the last time you had your system flushed?

[WildBill]

Thanks El...

Bill you said a couple of things that clicked with me...I do have an AC condense up front tranny cooler is flat so that is not an issue. Too much antifreeze is a real possibility. Because of the leak I've been adding antifreeze straight and I am guessing my 60-65% is A LOT higher now. What % do you think?

The other things are okay...but thanks for those reminders.

Okay one more time. :) What size thermo would you run or would you not run one?
Since you want to drive it on the street, a stat is the best. If it was mainly a strip car with breif stints on the street, then a properly sized restrictor would be fine. The size would be base on the capacity of the coolant systemn, rate of coolant flow, rate of air flow and HP output.
I would limit my anti-freeze to 30% to keel some boil over protection and corrosion protection and try a well known 160* stat to start off. If you take those measures and you still have over heating problems, the we need to look more closely in other areas. Remember, this is the internet. There is nothing like hands on and actually seeing, hearing and feeling what the car is actually doing. From what I've read from you here, that should get you in the ballpark, if not hit a home run.

Another thing nobody mentioned, when was the last time you had your system flushed?

Very good possibility!

[Blown66]

Long couple of weeks...sorry for the slow come back.

Thanks...I'll do that...getting some things chromed so I'm in no rush...actually not a choice. lol