My engine overheated so I figured I'd flush the system, get a new t-stat, gasket, upper hose, etc. Well I take apart the old system and I had a 160* t-stat in there already. Should I go and get another 160* since my car's been running fine with a 160 already? Its a stock305 except for intake and exhaust.

 

That's pretty low for a stock 305. Go with a 180.

 

Thanks, that's what I figured.

 

Doesn't the car run and operate just fine at temps of 180-230 deg.? I have a switch I turn on at around 220 and turn off at 180 or so. I could've gotten a fan switch for the block but I was lazy.
How come alot of people from what I've read on here thinks that running it as cool as possible is the best? I mean I understand that might be better for a track run, but isn't that making it run a little richer and make the car get lower gas mileage? If we're talking about a daily driver without aluminum heads then doesn't the factory system with an airdam work just fine? Am I confusing and mixing up someone who's thinking performance rather than just daily driving driveability? I have a daily driver so my interpretation may be curved a bit from how it's intended to be read I guess lol.

just wondering

 

If you're building up an engine, lower temps means denser air/fuel mixture and less detonation, and you can tune around that. A stock F-body engine won't benefit from a t-stat as low as 160.

 

so, performance wise, on a not-so-stock engine, it would be beneficial to have a 160º stat? I have a 180º in there right now and it likes to run at about 180-185 on a normal day.. if i get on it at all or get up to speeds in excess of 65 (on the freeway) for any long period of time, it likes to get much hotter, in the 200-210 range. Would a 160º stat help me out at all? Or should i go the full way and replace my radiator with a be-cool, 2 core radiator, new aluminum waterpump, and dual electric fans instead of the single elec?

 

I'm in a similar situation right now. I'm thinking that if it gets hot on the highway its probably not a fan issue since you're moving so much air. I'm not sure how much of a different high flow water pump will change since at a certain point the flow will actually work against you (although I'd imagine pumps are designed to not come close to this point). I'd have to say a good radiator would make the largest difference but I'm not expert.

 

yah, thats what i was thinkin.. the only thing about the aluminum water pump (besides a little weight reduction) would be the fact that aluminum dissipates heat more quickly.. but i know that wouldnt make much of a difference...

 

The only time it would be beneficial to run a 160* stat is if you can tune the car to work optimally at that temp. Our cars are designed to run between 190 and 220. You're somewhat looking at t-stats backwards in regards to engine tuning. They aren't a performance mod in any way, they are a tuning tool. 200-210* isn't hot for these cars, and should be fine.

 

okie-dokie

 

If i put a 180* thermostat on my almost completely stock car, will it give me worse gas mileage(as opposed to the 195*)??

 

I don't think so, but I wouldn't really know. I've been running 17-20 mpg in "rural" driving.

 

well my car is mostly stock but i put a hypertech chip in there and they say to run a 160 thermostat with it thats the only reason i have a 160 t-stat in there now