the stock thermostat is 180 right then howcome engine gets to like 220 before it kicks in and cools down, will a 160 stat help ?

 

I 180 thermo only opens up the cooling system into the radiator...it doesn't cool anything. The fan on/off temp switch is what will keep your cooling system at a lower temp. Get a Grand National fan switch from the parts store or get an adjustable one. Just remember that if you get the adjustable version, be sure to hook up a relay to it so that it only works when the car is on! I've heard people say that the stock wiring diagram shows to just hook it directly up to the battery and that it will run with heat soak and kill weak batteries.

 

I do know on my 91' RS, the stock rating is 195*. I went to a 180* T-Stat and some Water Wetter which seems to slow the progression to 220* down dramatically, but if you really want to stay cool, you will need a new fan switch. I believe Thunder Racing has 2 you can choose from made by Hypertech. I'll probably end up getting the higher temp one, because I still have to pass emissions down here....atleast it will be an improvement over the stock one.

Is it me, or does horsepower really go out the window when you hit 220*? I feel like I'm in a 6 cyl. or something.

 

I just installed a 180* stat on my 90TBI. WHen im on the freeway, the temp never goes past the first quarter line (i am guess that is the 180* mark). But when driving in the city (alot of stop and go), the temp goes up to 220 then the fan kicks on and cools it back down.
I removed my AC but still have the stock AC controls, so when i am driving city and my car starts to heat up, i just move the controls to the AC settings and the radiator fan kicks on.

 

you can go to your local auto parts store and buy lower temp fan switches, so if 220 is too high for you just buy a lower one.

later
tim

 

hmm funny...i stuck a 180 in there and it never gets about the first mark (160 degrees) unless i sit for at least 10 minutes...my fan doesnt kick on at all on its own so i have a switch wired into the fuse box which i rarely ever turn on..i guess the new water pump and radiator help...the car has also given we 4 reasons this winter alone to have to flush the system...first was the radiator, then the lower hose, then the upper hose, then the water pump...

 

I can turn my fan on just by turning on the a/c...my a/c does not work anyway so that is what I do when my car heats up on hot days....

 

Just unplug the harness going to the compressor .