This is a stupid question, but I need to know the correct answer as I have completely forgotten and I cannot find it ANYWHERE. On a 1992 Camaro RS 305 TBI, which direction should the thermostat be installed? Should the pointed side or the spring side face down into the intake manifold?

 

The spring faces down - The only stupid question is the one not asked!

 

thermostat also should only fit with the narrow side facing up as well FYI. So it's impossible to install it upside down.

 

Thanks for the quick response guys, highly appreciated. I guess im gonna try a new stat then because that is how I installed it this time. Here is the funny thing though... My 195 stat seems to allow my engine to heat up under hard acceleration, and then cools down. Hopefully it's just sticking. This did not happen with my 180 installed, which was installed with the spring side up (which would be backwards i now realize). So one thing is for sure, my housing allows me to install the thermostat either way, and none of my stats had arrows on them, so many thanks for the help. Hopefully I didn't cause any damage from having the 180 in there backwards for a few thousand miles! Temp was always consistent which i find a little weird for being backwards, but I decided to go stock again to try and squeeze a few more degrees out of my heater I'll post back when i find with certainty what's causing my temp to rise and cool like crazy, Im praying it's a bad thermostat because everything was fine with the 180. NOTE: I do not know if I have the reverse flow design or not.

 

Go to 190 then...

 

Yes, 190 or 192 should give me what I want. I removed the 195 and tested it (i don't have a thermometer) but it took a full boil to open the first time. Then it seemed to open sooner aftwards, so it appears to be sticking. I noticed the 195 is the only stat I have that DOES have an arrow, pointing the short pointed end towards the radiator (up). I reinstalled the 180 the proper way, and I'm back to where I was... a cooler but consistent temp with a bit cooler heater.

So to conclude: The spring side of the thermostat definately goes down into the intake manifold and the short pointed end goes towards the radiator. My sudden rise and fall in temperature appears to be caused by a sticking 195 thermostat. I shall replace it with a 190 or 192, whichever I can find.

Thanks again.

 

Another consideration would be the quality of the T-stat installed....Might sound like I'm being picky, but I tend to spend the extra bucks and get a good, hi-quality name brand stat...some of the junk on the market these days are so far off on their actual opening and closing temps they're a joke!!! Also, not much quality control on some of them...if it fits in the housing that's good enough! I've also had very good luck with the hi-flow stats, seem to improve the cooling a bit. Like I said, I'm probably just being to fussy.......

PS---Summit, and I would imagine other mail order stores sell the EMP-Stewart Hi-Flow stats and have a very good selection of different operating temps..... They only run about $15.00, probably in the long run cheaper then going thru a few of the cheapies trying to find one that actually operates correctly....

 

They do make some cheap stats. The 180 i put back in doesn't even open straight. I did buy one of the high flow stats rated for 195 and it's in the garage now, but i thought it ran too cool when i tried it. But then again, I may have installed it backwards, i dont remember. Thats probably worth checking out again now that i'll never forget which way the thermostat goes.