Thermostat Question?
 

Can anyone tell me which thermostat to run in my 68's High Performanc 302? The defective one I removed was a 160, but AutoZone stated the computer calls for a 195, which I bought and installed. Hope I didn't screw up by taking their advice?

You should be ok. Most engines run around 200 anyway. The only advantage to a 160 it that it runs cooler in the summer. Some change them in the winter to a 195 because it warms up faster. The only problem you would cause with using an incorrect thermo is if you had an EFI engine. It would throw off the computer (that would be set for lets say a 195 degree) into thinking that the engine was not warmed up yet and richen up the mixture thus causing black smoke, rough idle, fouled out plugs etc....but you dont so wouldnt worry about it.

Dan

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Dan "Mudinford" MacDonald

Rather be pushing a Ford than drive a chevy

Like a rock....in water.

The 195 will work. But, I run and prefer the 160. Lets it run a little cooler and cooler is better here in FL.

Whether you run a 160, 180, or 195 thermostat probably won't matter much in a warm climate. It just determines when it opens. I run a 160 and in the winter it runs just a little over that. Once the thing is open, the cooling system capacity and the air temperature is what determines the temp that the engine runs at.

In Houston with 100 F days, when my temp climbs to 200 F, I then need to turn on my auxillary electric pusher fan. With my cooling system, this will keep it at 180-200F even in the worst conditions.

Rev

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'66 Coupe, 306, 300 HP, C-4, 13.97 e.t., 100.3 mph
1/4 mi.

[This message has been edited by Rev (edited 08-19-2001).]