Okay my car gets hotter every time I drive now, freakin texas heat. Anyways, one time my bud and I forgot (duh...) to install the thermostat in his 56 stang. It ran extremely cool, like 140 degrees. My question is, could I 1.)Remove the thermostat, or 2.) Drill holes in the plate part of it to flow more?

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1983 Firebird
TH700R4 Auto
Small Block 400
LG4 ECM, Intake, Carb, Distributor, etc.
Soon to be non-computer.
Clarion Head Unit 45X4
2 Pioneer 400W 12" Subs
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is half an engine."

 

I've heard of people doing both with success.
IMHO removing the thermostat isn't nessecary. What I do for mine (damn florida heat ) is run a 160 stat, I have an extra hole drilled in the outer ring, and I run my fan all the time. My car never even sees 220.

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"American made baby. 100% American iron. The muscle among the masses. My hero. Yep, you can take your ergonomically designed, space age, computer controlled, 4 door, cup holding map lighted split double wishbone split fold down retractable cargo covered moon roof piece of transportation and keep it. For I have felt the thunder. And I know the difference!"
JSP Motorsports
ICON Motorsports

 

No, You cant possibly remove it, it is cast Into the Intake.

yes, My old firebird never had one in it, and it ran fine.


56 stang eh ? That must have been the second run year, after the 46 and 2/1 ?



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60 Ranchero - Project ( Money Hole )
85 Sport Coupe LG4 - Daily Driver
Reader's ride -> My Ride

Just another Hot Rod kid, or thats what they all tell me.
Livin' the Stereotype

 

typo, you know what I mean. at least i didnt say 'my 38 firebird'. hey that sounds weird... lol :P

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1983 Firebird
TH700R4 Auto
Small Block 400
LG4 ECM, Intake, Carb, Distributor, etc.
Soon to be non-computer.
Clarion Head Unit 45X4
2 Pioneer 400W 12" Subs
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is half an engine."

 

Oh Gawd ... I knew it would be coming with Summer on its way. Doesn't matter what cars you're into ... someone always wants to remove their thermostat. Look ... here's what the thermostat does ... it keeps water IN THE RADIATOR where it can cool ... you're only looking at the 'trapping water in the engine so it heats up' part of the equation. DO NOT remove your thermostat. If the car would run better, or cooler without one, they wouldn't be there to start with. If the car gets too hot, fix what's wrong with it.

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R.C. Righter
86 Trans Am

 

True, but it also allows more coolant to flow through the block. I think I am going to try it. Whats the worst that could happen? the car will get hot - it already does that, so I got nothing to lose.

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1983 Firebird
TH700R4 Auto
Small Block 400
LG4 ECM, Intake, Carb, Distributor, etc.
Soon to be non-computer.
Clarion Head Unit 45X4
2 Pioneer 400W 12" Subs
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is half an engine."

 

and my "22 camaro rs....with the big vulcan tires.

 

Removing thermo is stupid. I did that and the car ran like ****. I found the problem out, it was grass clippings imbetween my radiator and ac condensor. Fixed that, installed a 160 thermo and it ran great.
R.C.Righter is correct about it keeping water in the radiator. If it runs through the radiator too fast it won't keep the block at a constant temp. Flush your system out and put in 50/50. Flush the radiator until the water comes out clear. There should be no reason for somebody to removing a thermo, that's like using wood for the motor mount, eventually it's gonna fail and it's gonna fail HARD.


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, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website

 

I am moving to florida in June, so I made the following mods, which worked excellently in the 90 degree heat wave we had recently (in NJ):

1. Changed the thermostat to 160 (from 195)
2. Added a manual fan switch so i can turn the fan on and off as I please. (this is much easier than it sounds)

Email me if you want details on how to do this. It DOES work. My car does not go over the 220 mark, unless i want it to (i.e., emissions testing day!) On top of that, I am running a tranny cooler in front of the radiator, which transfers even more heat to the radiator. I got the idea from this website, and it works oh-so-well!

Joe

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86 IROC TPI 305
700-R4 with Trans-go shift kit
K&N Air filters
Dyno-Max cat-back
Summit tranny cooler
CEI throttle enhancer chip

[This message has been edited by JoeIROC (edited May 14, 2001).]

 

I agree with R.C. If you take it out the water in ur ratidor will not have time to cool. All u will have is hot water runing through there all the time. The stat stops the water so it has time to cool. Ya I thought that once too, take it out and it will run cooler..then i thought bout it. They wouldnt put it there if it didnt do anything. So really leave it in. Ive heard that if u put the factory stat back in it will actually run cooler. think its 195

 

My 86 Z is running wiithout a thermostat and it does not get hot one bit. I am running dual fans though. Check out this site www.stewartcomponents.com it will explain alot of things one of those things is the MYTH that water flowing to fast will not have time to cool. Check it out.

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Big 454 72 Chevy Nova
383 86 Camaro Z28
10.5:1compression 186 casting Heads,234dur.488lift exh&int,Edelbrock performer intake, Holley750 vac.sec 400 crank,flat top pistons,edelbrock valve springs and lifters,tranny shift kit,2500 stall converter. Will install 3.73's later on and might go with a more aggresive cam.As of 4/01 added Hooker Headers,2.5inchpipes with 40 s. Flowmasters.Ignition upgrade include: MSD Coil and MSD module.

 

Oh man, here comes the doesnt have time to cool theories....

https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/...ML/007954.html

 

The 'Doesn't Have Time to Cool' theory is offset by the 'Doesn't Have Time to Heat' theory.

 

Anyone subscribing to the 'doesn't have time to heat' theory needs to remove their TStat and let their car sit in traffic on a 95 degree day for a little while ...

50/50 is a pretty heavy mix unless your in the damn arctic!! I **NEVER** Run any heavier than 75/25 (water/anti-freeze) and that's more than sufficient in the DC area as well as NC where I used to reside.

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R.C. Righter
86 Trans Am

 

I am originaly from florida and it got at least 98 degrees. I ran without a thermostat for two years and it was a lot cooler.My car wouldn't get above 180 durring the summer.