mav75

My stock 305 TPI tends to heat up rather quickly in slow traffic, or if it's sitting still too long. When this happens, I get a lot of surging, missing, and sputtering. I've been told it's a common issue and that a 180 degree thermostat should take care of it.

There are a lot of thermostats out there, and since it's going to be kind of a pain in the *** to put it in, I only want to do it once. Does anyone have any success stories or warnings?

t-top havoc

iTrader: (3)

IMHO
Get one that has by-pass holes in it, Shaw & Stant come to mind, or drill 2 holes opposite of each other on said name brands.
There is a fail- safe but I don't recall the brand, that if it should fail, it does so in the open position so as to prevent toasting the motor.

DBLTKE

iTrader: (1)

You should match your thermostat to your fan switch. I have a 180* Stant thermostat and a Hayden fan switch that turns on at 200* and off at 180*. I never even look at my temp gauge anymore.

antoine

Don't get the fail safe one its fail safe because when it opens it locks open and will not close

calgutie

iTrader: (3)

On my car i run a 195 thermo and it seems to like it....no heating problems what so ever...ive also replaced my stock pump with a stewart pump...one fo the best upgrades ive done to my car....i highly recomend those pumps..

watajob

iTrader: (29)

I prefer Stant but drill 4, 1/8" holes before installing. Quality, "high performance" 'stat for half the price.

DBLTKE

iTrader: (1)

Half the price? A thermostat is like $5.

MY87LT

iTrader: (2)

I have the same combo except I have the Hypertech fan switch brand. Works great.

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

I like this type:



this type has failed on me twice now:

89RS_82Z

iTrader: (2)

Im running a FlowKooler water pump, 16" Flex-a-Lite Syclone S-Blade fan, Milodon 160, and a real high performace burn on the PROM ..... 95 outside, in traffic (if I ever drive the car LOL) and A/C full blast, never goes above 170, Heater works fine in the winter too

joshc

iTrader: (1)

I like the Stant Superstat,. It is their premium thermostat, stainless steel construction and my engine seems to run at a more consistent temperature then with the stocker.
They cost $10 at Advance auto parts.

red rock

iTrader: (2)

Are your fans coming on at all??? Are you sure it's a thermostat problem? Could be a temp sensor or a relay maybe.

kmcn47

i've never even seen that type i guess now i know why, to the op fail safe is a good brand i run one and have never had a problem with it, a 180* one for your car would be around 10 dollars so its more then some others but worth it IMO

blacksunshine'91

iTrader: (10)

I stick with the Delco 170* thermostat. Haven't had any issues at all in fifteen years.

Johnny Blaze

iTrader: (15)

If its heating up in traffic its not the t stat, its more likely your fans.

In drivers I always run a 195 with a 200 switch for the electric fan.

I use the Fail sfe ones as well. Would rather have it stick open the stick shut.

rybread11

My expience is exactly the oposite - as far as the engine running cooler. Although I will say with a high flow mildon 180, my autometer with the electric sensor in the head read 160 on the highway, and now I have a Mr. Gasket high flow 195 and the gauge sits at 180. I think it's right too, because my heater doesn't feel like it's warmer than 180. Actually though I'd like it to run hotter, basically my engine burns alot cleaner at 195/200 than 180. The exhaust smell is rich at 180, and cleaner smelling than cars with cats at 200.

IROCmenace

iTrader: (1)

Same here. I had the latter style fail right out of the package. Stant only for me. Had the failsafe before but couldn't find one in 180 so I went back to Stant.

Pat Hall

iTrader: (31)

I've heard the "fail-safe" ones have a tendency to get stuck in the open position not long after they're installed. When that happens, forget about having any heat in the winter! Drilling a couple of bypass holes is definitely a good idea, but if you live in an area that gets cold winters, make sure the holes you drill are on the smaller side. I recently bought one of the Mr. Gasket 195's that look like the 2nd one in the pics above. I went on Summit's website and drilled 3 holes the same size as the specs on Summit's website said. That didn't work out so good! When I'm in stop and go traffic in town, the temp gauge goes maybe about 1/4 of the way up, but going down the road, my temp gauge sits on rock bottom, so my heat is maybe room temp if I'm lucky! The other day I bought a Murray Ultrastat from O'Reillys. They're the ones that have a little poppet type valve in the flat part. I'm gonna drill one TINY hole on the opposite side of the poppet valve and see how that works out. We've been experiencing single digit temps around here recently, so the 195 with 3 big bypass holes didn't work out at all. My original 305 TBI motor had a standard, run-of-the-mill 195 in it, and it got so warm it'd almost chase you out of the car! But my new, Super-Rammed 355 wants to overheat with a standard 195 once summer comes around. I put a Stewart Stage 2 aluminum water pump in, and also did the Ford Taurus electric fan upgrade. I'm hoping a 195 with a small bypass hole will finally give me a good compromise for winter and summer. Up until now, I've had to put a 180 in for summer, and then the 195 for winter, and I'm sick of having to change t-stats twice a year! Anyways, I'm hoping with a small bypass hole, maybe I can get away with leaving a 195 in there year round. Oh yeah, I'm also using the Hayden adjustable fan control system, and I gotta tell ya, that setup is LEAGUES better than the stupid, fixed temp, factory style sensor in the cylinder head! And that Taurus fan works WAY better than the stock, dual fan setup.

Jesse85iroc-z28

speaking of cooling a camaro i have an 85 iroc with very low miles so its been sittin a while and im have problems with my cooling fan turning on does anyone have any suggestions on witch relay or switch it could be? its turns on once ina great while after i warm up the car shut it off then start it again....

AnthonyK0928

SO IM REPLACING MY THERMOSTAT AND I GOT THE HOSE AND HOUSING OFF HOW DO I TAKE OFF THE THERMOSTAT
SORRY MY FIRST CAR AND IM A NOOB LEARNING LOL
THANKS
I GOT A RS V8 TBI 305

AnthonyK0928

CAN YOU HELP ME WITH MY THERMOSTAT I TOOK OFF THE HOUSING AND HOSE HOW DO I TAKE THE THERMOSTAT OFF?
IM 18 JUST FIXING MY FIRST CAR LOL

kmcn47

turnoff caps lock is how to take the thermostat out

AnthonyK0928

HAHAHA SORRY lol

AnthonyK0928

no really how do i pop it out?

kmcn47

if it didn't come right out when the housing came off then it really doesn't matter, it just pops out, use a screwdriver? knife? pop it up out, it must be pretty gunked up to be stuck in there. good thing you're changing it

AnthonyK0928

sweet...thanks man
yea the camaros been sittin since 2004 then i baught off my uncle couple months
ago
i changed the fuel pump,alternator,belt, spark+wires,im learning lol

AnthonyK0928

it runs now just i took it out for a spin and the right wheel got stuck once i got it back in the drivway it wouldnt turn and it just burned tire any suggestions?

bitchin_buick

I was a noob one day myself and your best bet first of all is in the future is to start your own thread. Do so by going to the appropriate "Tech Board" to get a better response..... Like I said we were all Noobs at one point in our lives....

As far as your front tire just sounds like the front caliper locked up from sitting so long....

If you can't figure it out from there, start a thread in the "Brake" section.....

<Mike>

Pat Hall

iTrader: (31)

Hey Anthony, just another suggestion for you. If you want to make life easier as far as getting the t-stat housing to seal up good, I highly recommend buying the Mr. Gasket aluminum/rubber re-useable t-stat housing gasket. Auto Zone and O'Reilly's both usually have them in stock, and they run about 20 bucks. You don't have to use any gasket sealer with them, so they're pretty handy. I've changed my t-stat probably about 8 times now, and the re-useable gasket has sealed up perfect every time! Just thought I'd suggest it to you.

Jesse85iroc-z28

anyone? suggestions on what to check first?

Richboll

There are lots of posts to look at dealing with cooling fan/fans turning on and off and even how to determine if you actually have an overheating problem.

You may want to start a new thread explaining exactly what problems you are having. Then maybe someone can help you.