Running without thermostat

Scrapla · 06-30-2005, 12:28 AM

Anyone ever run no thermostat, I heard you run way cooler. Im in south florida so its always 80degree +, Im asking because mine needs to be replaced but im getting a new engine soon so i dont wanna buy a new one in the time being.

Jeff Chambers · 06-30-2005, 06:48 AM

Not a good idea for an EFI car. If your engine temp doesn't get above ~170-degrees, the car won't enter the base fuel & spark temperatures. Now if you're sure it will break the 170 mark with some margin (as measured by the ECT), then you might be OK, but even at that I'd still put a restrictor in to limit the flow through the engine.

07-01-2005, 11:30 AM

Yeah, if you have to remove the old one anyway, then why not spend the $6 or whatever it is and slap in a 180.

ob1thx1138 · 07-01-2005, 12:35 PM

I agree, if a new thermostat is going to break the bank, then you really don't need to try to get a new engine, I guarantee you that will cost at least a couple hundred more than you budget.... Theres always something you find that needs replacing or fixing that you didn't expect.

Coupe50h · 07-01-2005, 03:43 PM

I live in south tx, it's hot! i run a 160, i dont think that effects my performance as far as making power, it might make it run a little rich, i've used 180's and stock t-stats, the 160 allows me to make the most power.
when idling in the stageing lanes with my pullies and all, it will get up to the first line on the factory guage, and thats using a 2800 cfm electric fan.

I posted in another forum about my friends car overheating, even with a 160 stat, im thinking he just needs a nice aluminum radiator to solve the problem.

smokedchevy · 07-05-2005, 02:10 AM

The thermostat will cool water better by slowing it down so it stays in the radiator longer. If you remove the thermostat, the water just races through the radiator without getting a chance to cool. Race cars run restrictor plates to dial in the temp. It's basically a plate that fits between the manifold and thermostat housing with a hole in it. There are various plates with different size holes and racers will experiment till they get the flow of water just right. If you drive it on the street, stick with a thermostat. If you want your car to run cooler, get a 3 core radiator. The mustang interceptors ran them and they fit right in. You just need to fabricate mounts for the top of the radiator.

jrgoffin · 07-16-2005, 10:05 PM

I run a three-row radiator, stock fan and HD clutch and use a 195 stat (the good brass ones) and never run hot, even with the a/c blasting. My temp probe for the mechanical guauge is in the water neck and I'm always at 190. It probably helps to have the '93 Cobra pulleys or the factory pulleys, since most cars run hotter with under-drives since the water is not flowing as well.

68Falcon · 07-18-2005, 07:42 PM

I live in South Florida and I don't run a thermostat, but I do have a restrictor. I run 185 running around town. Being in stop and go traffic for a long time the temp will jump up to 210-215. I have an aluminum radiator with a proform electric fan. That fans just isn't cutting it. It kept my little 302 cool, but not the 351. I just order a DCC 18" fan kit. It pull twice as much CFM. It should do the trick.

06-30-2005, 12:28 AM	#1
Scrapla Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 532	Running without thermostat Anyone ever run no thermostat, I heard you run way cooler. Im in south florida so its always 80degree +, Im asking because mine needs to be replaced but im getting a new engine soon so i dont wanna buy a new one in the time being. __________________ 90gt 347 and some bolt ons :-) RICE HATERS MEMBER #73

06-30-2005, 06:48 AM	#2
Jeff Chambers Moderator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Milan, OH Posts: 2,699	Re: Running without thermostat Not a good idea for an EFI car. If your engine temp doesn't get above ~170-degrees, the car won't enter the base fuel & spark temperatures. Now if you're sure it will break the 170 mark with some margin (as measured by the ECT), then you might be OK, but even at that I'd still put a restrictor in to limit the flow through the engine. __________________ Jeff Chambers 1990 Mustang GT 10.032 Seconds / 137.5 MPH 14-time Street Warrior World Record Setter CRT Performance 2001 Tropic Green Mustang GT - 12.181 / 113.2 MPH 2002 Ford F-250 Crew Cab 7.3l Power Stroke - 17.41@77.2 "There's nothing boring about a small block automatic shifting gears at 9400 rpm!"

07-01-2005, 11:30 AM	#3
Simi Stang Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Running without thermostat Yeah, if you have to remove the old one anyway, then why not spend the $6 or whatever it is and slap in a 180.

07-01-2005, 12:35 PM	#4
ob1thx1138 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2	Re: Running without thermostat I agree, if a new thermostat is going to break the bank, then you really don't need to try to get a new engine, I guarantee you that will cost at least a couple hundred more than you budget.... Theres always something you find that needs replacing or fixing that you didn't expect.

07-01-2005, 03:43 PM	#5
Coupe50h Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SanAntonio, Tx Posts: 957	Re: Running without thermostat I live in south tx, it's hot! i run a 160, i dont think that effects my performance as far as making power, it might make it run a little rich, i've used 180's and stock t-stats, the 160 allows me to make the most power. when idling in the stageing lanes with my pullies and all, it will get up to the first line on the factory guage, and thats using a 2800 cfm electric fan. I posted in another forum about my friends car overheating, even with a 160 stat, im thinking he just needs a nice aluminum radiator to solve the problem. __________________ X-Texas highway patrol ssp 1990 coupe - exploder Gt-40 iron heads, Explorer intake, 19 lber's. E-cam. crane 1.7 rollers. 190fp. 75mm maf. 65mm tb, tubular subframe connectors, mac cai, Asp crank pulley, T-5, king cobra clutch, flowtech 1-5/8 unequals, mac X-pipe Frpp driveshaft, lakewood Lca's. race weight 3,160 12.69 @ 107.35, 1.71 60' 26x8.5 drag's 3.90 gear 13.20 @ 106.91 - 235/60/15 firestones 2.3 60' 3.27 gear

07-05-2005, 02:10 AM	#6
smokedchevy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: ventura,CA Posts: 438	Re: Running without thermostat The thermostat will cool water better by slowing it down so it stays in the radiator longer. If you remove the thermostat, the water just races through the radiator without getting a chance to cool. Race cars run restrictor plates to dial in the temp. It's basically a plate that fits between the manifold and thermostat housing with a hole in it. There are various plates with different size holes and racers will experiment till they get the flow of water just right. If you drive it on the street, stick with a thermostat. If you want your car to run cooler, get a 3 core radiator. The mustang interceptors ran them and they fit right in. You just need to fabricate mounts for the top of the radiator. __________________ 92 GT, 4:10 gears, centerforce clutch, 6# powerdyne blower, bbk h-pipe, flowmasters 65 Mustang 13.50 107mph 3000' ALt. 65 Falcon Straight Axle Drag Car Last edited by smokedchevy; 07-05-2005 at 02:11 AM.. Reason: typo

07-16-2005, 10:05 PM	#7
jrgoffin Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Midwest Posts: 79	Re: Running without thermostat I run a three-row radiator, stock fan and HD clutch and use a 195 stat (the good brass ones) and never run hot, even with the a/c blasting. My temp probe for the mechanical guauge is in the water neck and I'm always at 190. It probably helps to have the '93 Cobra pulleys or the factory pulleys, since most cars run hotter with under-drives since the water is not flowing as well. __________________ '90 LX Too many mods... Rear-Disc tech

07-18-2005, 07:42 PM	#8
68Falcon Bracket Racer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Loxahatchee, Florida Posts: 210	Re: Running without thermostat I live in South Florida and I don't run a thermostat, but I do have a restrictor. I run 185 running around town. Being in stop and go traffic for a long time the temp will jump up to 210-215. I have an aluminum radiator with a proform electric fan. That fans just isn't cutting it. It kept my little 302 cool, but not the 351. I just order a DCC 18" fan kit. It pull twice as much CFM. It should do the trick. __________________ Streetcar 90 Notch 69 351W .030 over. Untouched 69 351 heads Crane cams duration @050 216in 228ex. valve lift .484in .512ex. Untouched RPM air gap intake with Holley 750 DP. Hooker headers. C6 trans. 8.8 with 3.73, Strange 31spline alxes and spool Racecar 68 Falcon 10 point Cage and FE487ci 13.6:1 compression. .740 lift 276in 284ex duration @.050 in the Works. 428CJ heads. Port O Sonic intake with 1050 Dominator. PowerGlide trans.

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