What would be a good thermostat to run in a 1972 350 chevy?

[HeavyHauler]

My friend has a 350 Chevy in his 1972 C10 and is wondering what thermostat would be good to put in it? His truck does not have AC if that makes a difference.

[Shifty One]

I'd go with a good 180, preferrably the Robert Shaw/Mr Gasket hi-flow version.

[HeavyHauler]

Thanks guys I will tell him to get the 180.

[MS66]

Pretty sure they came with 195 degree thermostat.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by MS66

Pretty sure they came with 195 degree thermostat.

I was thinking that too. Also, the heater/defroster works better with a 195.

[Luke87gt]

I went with a RockAuto Gates 180* stat

If everything in the cooking system is working well, you don’t need anything special in the thermostat department. Good luck

[MS66]

Originally Posted by Stocker

I was thinking that too. Also, the heater/defroster works better with a 195.

Yessir, everything works as it was designed. Engine runs better too.

Originally Posted by Luke87gt

I went with a RockAuto Gates 180* stat

If everything in the cooking system is working well, you don’t need anything special in the thermostat department. Good luck

I don't get what you're comment means. If everything is working well, why did you go to a 180 instead of what it is designed to use? It's engineered to run a 195, truck runs great like that.

[MARKDTN]

When I was younger I did not like temps to go over 180, but 195 with antifreeze is just fine. You also get better combustion. Go with a good quality 195 t-stat. I like Robertshaw myself.

[franken]

The thermostat begins to open at the rated temp. It has no effect on the eventual operating temp of the engine unless the temp goes below the opening temp.
NAPA says 180* is correct, or rather that's the temp you get if you search for one for that vehicle.

[MS66]

Originally Posted by franken

The thermostat begins to open at the rated temp. It has no effect on the eventual operating temp of the engine unless the temp goes below the opening temp.
NAPA says 180* is correct, or rather that's the temp you get if you search for one for that vehicle.

NAPA....
They came with 195. That's what they're designed to run. Never had an issue with it, truck runs like a top at operating temp.

[67 twins]

Originally Posted by MS66

Yessir, everything works as it was designed. Engine runs better too.


I don't get what you're comment means. If everything is working well, why did you go to a 180 instead of what it is designed to use? It's engineered to run a 195, truck runs great like that.

Except they didn't. V8s came with 180° thermostats and inline 6s came with 195° thermostats

[MS66]

Originally Posted by 67 twins

Except they didn't. V8s came with 180° thermostats and inline 6s came with 195° thermostats

Where did you get that info? All the V8 C10 trucks I've seen call for 195 as OEM spec.

[MARKDTN]

Originally Posted by MS66

Where did you get that info? All the V8 C10 trucks I've seen call for 195 as OEM spec.

I may be wrong but I thought most 60s/70s GM cars all originally called for 180 stats but at some point (maybe a Government thing, I don't know) GM quit selling 180s and only sell 195s. You can still buy 180 Robertshaws in the aftermarket, but not from GM. Maybe that is just urban legend/conspiracy theory though?

[Craftwerks]

If you are in a region where it gets really cold and you have to frequently deal with frozen ice on windows I would go with the 195 but if further south or if its a garage strored vehicle and only driven in pleasant weather a 180 would be friendlier to your cooling system and needs.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Wouldn't the 180 open sooner, put warm air on the glass sooner, and defrost/de-ice the glass sooner?
I'm baffled

[MS66]

Originally Posted by MARKDTN

I may be wrong but I thought most 60s/70s GM cars all originally called for 180 stats but at some point (maybe a Government thing, I don't know) GM quit selling 180s and only sell 195s. You can still buy 180 Robertshaws in the aftermarket, but not from GM. Maybe that is just urban legend/conspiracy theory though?

Haha! urban legend/ct .... Dang this thread got deep.
All I asked was where the original 180 degree info came from, and where to find it. FWIW, I always heard 180 back in the day, "you need to run a 180, your truck will run better because it's 15 degrees cooler". I don't remember looking it up or asking anyone at a dealer parts counter what came in them when I was a youngster starting out in the late '70s. I went by hearsay that came from buddies, and buddies of buddies. But yeah, every place you look up a thermostat for a C10 nowadays lists 195 for all of them up to '72. That is interesting now that you mention it.

[franken]

Originally Posted by MS66

Haha! urban legend/ct .... Dang this thread got deep.
All I asked was where the original 180 degree info came from, and where to find it. FWIW, I always heard 180 back in the day, "you need to run a 180, your truck will run better because it's 15 degrees cooler". I don't remember looking it up or asking anyone at a dealer parts counter what came in them when I was a youngster starting out in the late '70s. I went by hearsay that came from buddies, and buddies of buddies. But yeah, every place you look up a thermostat for a C10 nowadays lists 195 for all of them up to '72. That is interesting now that you mention it.

Everyplace except for an auto parts store that is...

[MS66]

Originally Posted by franken

Everyplace except for an auto parts store that is...

What are you going on about.

Like I said, every auto parts supply house(store) has 195 listed as OE spec. I said that 5 or so posts ago.

[Richard]

The original owners manual from my 72 lists a 195. That is what OEM stated for as long as I know. My 85, 94 and 2000 are/were the same as well.

[MS66]

Originally Posted by Richard

The original owners manual from my 72 lists a 195. That is what OEM stated for as long as I know. My 85, 94 and 2000 are/were the same as well.

Thanks for posting this.
I just pulled the owner's manual out for my '69 G10, it says the same thing; 195 degree thermostat for all models.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by Rust_never_sleeps

Wouldn't the 180 open sooner, put warm air on the glass sooner, and defrost/de-ice the glass sooner?
I'm baffled

Yes it will open at the lower temp than a 195. It will not put warm air on the glass any sooner. Engine will warm the same with either thermostat. The 180 will circulate coolant sooner keeping temperature lower.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Originally Posted by Richard

Yes it will open at the lower temp than a 195. It will not put warm air on the glass any sooner. Engine will warm the same with either thermostat. The 180 will circulate coolant sooner keeping temperature lower.

Water wouldn't warm up faster with the 180F+water circulating into the radiator(+heater core) sooner?

[Richard]

Originally Posted by Rust_never_sleeps

Water wouldn't warm up faster with the 180F+water circulating into the radiator(+heater core) sooner?

How could the water warm up faster? The engine heats up and water temp will will rise at the same rate with either t-stat. The 180 stat will open and start circulating at 15 degrees cooler than a stock thermostat. Net result is lower cooling system temps. The heater core has the water flowing through it regardless of t-stat position. The heater core will have 15 degree lower temps at full operating temp with the cooler t-stat.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Originally Posted by Richard

How could the water warm up faster? The engine heats up and water temp will will rise at the same rate with either t-stat. The 180 stat will open and start circulating at 15 degrees cooler than a stock thermostat. Net result is lower cooling system temps. The heater core has the water flowing through it regardless of t-stat position. The heater core will have 15 degree lower temps at full operating temp with the cooler t-stat.

Warm water starts leaving the block sooner, so the water in the rad and also heater core starts mixing with that warm water sooner. To me that means the core starts moving warm(not hot) water earlier. Not saying I can't be completely wrong, but

Full operating temp is going to be the same regardless of opening temp though.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by Rust_never_sleeps

Warm water starts leaving the block sooner, so the water in the rad and also heater core starts mixing with that warm water sooner. To me that means the core starts moving warm(not hot) water earlier. Not saying I can't be completely wrong, but

Full operating temp is going to be the same regardless of opening temp though.

I am sorry, do not understand. Water always flows through the heater core, so as engine heats up the coolant flowing through it will get warmer. Will warm at the same rate with any thermostat. The radiators job is to decrease coolant temp. So when the stat opens coolant temp is decreased.
If the operating temp remains the same with a 195 and 180 stat the cooling system capacity is not adequate.