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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: denton, tx, usa
Posts: 176
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180 or 195 thermostat?
Which is better for a "69 350 auto, 180 or 195 thermostat(or what was stock)? Thanks for any comments.
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69 SB GMC LWB Fleetside 350, 09 Pontiac Vibe 2.4 liter |
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#2 |
Truck and auto performance nut
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: McKinney,Texas
Posts: 3,848
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
I prefer a high flow 180.
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Kurt - '68 GMC short step - NIB '09 LY6 6.0L crate motor w/mods, NIB '12 crate 4L85e w/billet 3k stall Circle D, 3.73 posi 12 bolt, DynaTech f-swap headers, 3/4 drop, handling mods, etc. - my toy '72 Chevy LWB C-10 Highlander - 350/350 ps/pb/tilt/ac - not original but close '06 Chevy TrailBlazerSS - LS2/4L70e - little black hot rod SUV - my DD '18 Kia Sorento - wife's econo-driver '95 Chevy S10 - reg cab shortbed, LS, 4.3, auto... my '68's powertrain and chassis build -links broken A surprise phase - carb to efi -links broken |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: South Florida
Posts: 158
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
I agree, 180.
Rob |
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#4 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Philly
Posts: 1,140
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
Depends what you're looking for...I run a 180 but if you're hoping to improve MPG you might want to consider going higher.
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 2,188
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
There really isnt a right answer, more of a preference thing. The important thing is that it climbs to the temp that it opens and then stays there.
I use a 195 in the winter for extra heat from the heater, and 180 in the summer.
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RIP EastSideLowLife '72 C20 SWB convert. 5 lug, LS1/4l60e |
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#6 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,859
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
I run 180 to play it safe.195 leaves little margin to boiling point for me.
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#7 |
Gone to greener pastures
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Gateway to the Delta
Posts: 7,354
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
I run a 180, but I don't think it matters a whole lot.
The thermostat controls the minimum temperature. If the engine has the tendency to run over 195, it's going to run over 195, regardless of the thermostat.
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'69 Chevy 1/2 T LWB Stepper: Daily Beater '72 GMC 3/4 T Fleet: Another Daily Beater '72 Plymouth Gran Coupe: ? "Ah women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent." Friedrich Nietzsche "Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day." Harry S. Truman GUN CONTROL: Never having to say, "I missed you." Always fire two warning shots into your attacker's chest area before putting a bullet between his eyes. Paraphrased from Louis Awerbuck |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Posts: 108
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
I have a 195 in mine but I don't remember the reasoning for it at that time.
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Save your money and do it right the first time. 1968 GMC short bed 1972 Cab 74 SB Chevy running gear |
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#9 |
Old member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S.
Posts: 19,936
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
The motor has a lot to do with what you run.
For instance is it fuel injected? If so then 195 Carburated 180 Computer cars run hotter temps so a higher thermastat is recomended by most. If you run a lower thermastat it can play hell on the computer trying to compensate for it. Does the engine run cool in traffic? Then 195 would be OK in the summer & winter you get the heat out of it. If it doesn't then run the 180. ![]() ![]()
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1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 ![]() Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs. |
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#10 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Cheboygan, MI
Posts: 998
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
Quote:
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Tony Johnson -- '71 Blazer w/L-31 Vortec 350, SM465, NP205, performer intake, edelbrock 1406, HEI, 4" lift, Boyd EFI tank, Vintage A/C My Blazer -- |
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#11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Terrell, TX
Posts: 1,967
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
I agree with the 180....195 is for newer motors that run hotter. The guy that built my motor said go 180 so that when it runs hot in the summer it doesn't go past 200. He said the motor will last longer that way.
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Kelly '05 GMC Sierra SLE Z71 Bone stock except for new bed rail caps. |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 434
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
what does the Factory Manual say for 350s? For BB it's 195
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kansas
Posts: 865
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Garland,TX
Posts: 431
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
i run a 160, it still climbs up to 180-190 sitting in traffic.
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#15 |
laying low
![]() Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Searcy, Ark. USA
Posts: 13,267
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
I think whatever temp stat you're running the engine needs to be tuned for that temp range to get the most power and mileage out of it.
After some extended running look at the plugs and see if they're running clean or sooting up a bit. Running too rich or lean affects the running temp too. Ignition timing also affects running temp.
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Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross |
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#16 |
20' Daredevil (Ret)
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jefferson State
Posts: 13,643
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
I don't change mine season-to-season, and run a 195 year-round. Gives me better cab heat in the winter and does not run hot in the summer. Can't recall the numbers, but 195 is still far enough away from boiling in a pressurized system with 50/50 antifreeze.
.02 ![]()
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- Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 434
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
Surely if GM says 195 then they must be on to something. If everything is working right, it won't boil over. This is true even if it's 210 degrees. Boiling is 212 plus whatever the antifreeze raises it to. Gotta remember antifreeze works in both directions high and low.
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#18 |
Truck and auto performance nut
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: McKinney,Texas
Posts: 3,848
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Re: 180 or 195 thermostat?
I prefer to runa 180 on the older engines (pre '80s) because I don't feel there is a real need for the extra 15 degrees of heat in Texas weather. I run a mechanical temp gauge and with the 195 stat I'd see temps up to 220* or so just a few minutes after shutting the truck off. With a 180, it doesn't get over 200* after shutting it off.
__________________
Kurt - '68 GMC short step - NIB '09 LY6 6.0L crate motor w/mods, NIB '12 crate 4L85e w/billet 3k stall Circle D, 3.73 posi 12 bolt, DynaTech f-swap headers, 3/4 drop, handling mods, etc. - my toy '72 Chevy LWB C-10 Highlander - 350/350 ps/pb/tilt/ac - not original but close '06 Chevy TrailBlazerSS - LS2/4L70e - little black hot rod SUV - my DD '18 Kia Sorento - wife's econo-driver '95 Chevy S10 - reg cab shortbed, LS, 4.3, auto... my '68's powertrain and chassis build -links broken A surprise phase - carb to efi -links broken |
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