Loswa

Ok guys, we usually are used to hearing the car is running too hot but for once I have one of the rare occasions where the car is running too cold, or maybe Im making a big deal out of it and its fine.
The car itself 350 carb, has a 190 stat, manual fan, radiator looks good and clean, no leaks, airdam installed, no baffle (or whatever is called), manual single fan, and the hood is the daytona hood with the 8 slots opened cuz it nearly never rains out here. Coolant is filled to midway between hot and cold.

I noticed that when Im on the interstate on a 70F day, the temp will rise to about 160 tops but rarely, at night time, 50F it will be closer to the 100-120 range. The temp does climb when at idle and can overheat if I don't turn on the fan, but never during driving. Only times I saw the engine hike past 200 was when it was low on coolant or when temp was in the 98F region, or when Im driving in city due to lots of stops.

I seem to be getting good airflow overall, but my question is, is it too much airflow and could this potentially damage my engine? Or could this be what I read on another thread about the stat being open? Or as I mentioned, its fine and no big deal and that's good?

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Gauge is probably wrong

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

Well, whatever you do, get the "Baffle" back and installed. Tha'ts called the "Airdam" and you need it.

Also, by your description, you don't have a "manual" fan, you have an electric can with a manual switch that allows you to control whenthe fan turns on/off.

Since the car gets hot sitting, that means your thermostat is working fine. Usually when it doesn't get "hot" at all, it means the thermostat is stuck open and needs to be replaced.

That said, Sofa could very well be correct because our gauges are notorously incorrect.

Loswa

Yes, thats what I meant as manual fan Ozz, didn't know there was a technical name for that. As fas as the gage goes, yeah I know, same issue on my other 86, but what confused me about it is that it stayed cool when its normal for our cars to run a little on the hot side. When i bought this ,car it used to overheat but now after what ive done i was worried if keeping it too cool could damage my engine.
As for the airdam are you talking about the under side plastics or the piece under the hood near the latch?
Thx for the replies guys.

Dakota W.

I have an aluminum rad, airdam, and am running t-statless, on colder days on the highway my temps rarely ever get over 140, I've heard that you get less mpgs because the engine isn't running at optimal temperatures.

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

The airdam sticks down below the radiator, if you look at some front or side pictures of your cars, you'll see a little flap like thing hanging down below the radiator under the front of the car. This creates a low pressure area behind it which causes air to flow up and over it through the radiator faster than it normally would, kind of like an airplane wing.

I have a 180* stat, aluminum BeCool radiator and a single electric fan that comes on automatically (factory set up), but a different fan switch that comes on at 195* instead of the factory 225.

My temp stays right at the first tick on the temp gauge and only gets up to the tick, around 200*, I believe, in the middle of the gauge when I'm sitting in traffic or otherwise stopped.

The higher operating temps were designed for more complete combustion on our cars, better emissions control. They don't necessarily run "better" at higher temps, but they can run too cool, which can prevent them from going into closed loop operation (under 140*).

If you're really worried about it, The best way to check the temp of the car is to get a IR thermometer and point it at the thermostat housing neck, that will tell you how hot your car is actually getting.

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

Sorry, it's still an electric fan, just has a manual switch on it. A "manual" fan, is one of the older mechanical clutch style fans or mechanical fan hooked to the water pump that's always running (w/out clutch attached). There's not "official" or "Technical" name for it.

Loswa

Ok then yeah the airdam I installed as I mentioned in the first post. The baffle im talking about as referred by others on this site is the plastic piece thats by the hoodlatch between the nose and the radiator that covers access to say the fog lights for example. Its supposed to help circulate air on that side of the radiator.
From what you mentioned I should be fine then. Im having very similar readings. Thx for your response and the clarification on the fan.

Reid Fleming

iTrader: (2)

Sounds like your thermostat is stuck open to me. I've had it happen. Cheap fix.