T-stat at 165F ? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

ROAD DOG · 12-24-2003, 06:43 PM

T-stat at 165F ?
My 1970 4x4 355 runs at 160F . Driven all day no more then 165F
I thought I put in a 180F t-stat but what the hell?Do I need to bump it up and run at 180F-190F?

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jhow66 · 12-24-2003, 06:47 PM

Best temp for a engine is in the 180-190 ranges as you say because this keeps all moisture from forming.

PanelDeland · 12-24-2003, 07:13 PM

If you do have a good 180 thermostat you may have a bad sending unit or the guage could be out of calibration.Also it might not be the right sending unit for the guage.

lukecp · 12-24-2003, 07:20 PM

I agree, the guage could be bad.. 15-20 degrees off could be a possiblity.

I acutally prefer a 195 degree stat for wintertime, but i have a 180 in the truck right now. Seems to work well for both summer and winter.

With a 160 degree stat my heater has never very hot.

tom hand · 12-24-2003, 07:59 PM

I have seen this a lot in trucks...maybe it has to do with all the airflow the radiator gets...you can put in a new stat drive down the road...it will heat up to 180, if that's what you have in there, but once it opens it never closes again and the truck wants to run around 160. I have never really solved the problem, but what I do is cut a piece of cardboard that covers about 3/4 of the radiator. With the cardboard in place your heat will work great. Kinda redneck but it works great and the price is right. I have done this on every older Chevy truck I have owned

nitor · 12-25-2003, 01:36 PM

tom hand,

I've done that before. Had an old Ford once, it would never get hot. Put a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator, I was toasty warm after that. My 70 GMC has a 180 degree now, it gets too hot sometimes.

**FRENCHBLUE72** · 12-25-2003, 01:40 PM

Mine has the card board motif also ... I tried all the thermo stat's and during the summer it will get to 190 when pulling a trailer but that's the hottest it get's..

**old Rusty C10** · 12-25-2003, 08:36 PM

if ya wanted something a little fancier i bet you could get a canvas shield kinda like the big trucks have made at a boat canvass shop that would look cool and be functional too

veltex · 12-26-2003, 12:40 PM

run a 180 in my bb, so far so good

12-24-2003, 06:43 PM	#1
ROAD DOG Top of the foodchain Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: 3.5 miles from Mile Hi Stadium Posts: 127	T-stat at 165F ? T-stat at 165F ? My 1970 4x4 355 runs at 160F . Driven all day no more then 165F I thought I put in a 180F t-stat but what the hell?Do I need to bump it up and run at 180F-190F? __________________ __________________ 1970 K-10 4x4 1975 Jeep CJ-5 4x4 1990 Jeep XJ 4x4 Smell the Magic!

12-24-2003, 06:47 PM	#2
jhow66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Knoxville Tenn. Posts: 3,058	Best temp for a engine is in the 180-190 ranges as you say because this keeps all moisture from forming. __________________ 56 Chevy Bel-Air 2dr. HT (purchased new) 71 Chevy Cheyenne SWB PU (502HO) 65 GMC short bed step--work in progress and my gofer

12-24-2003, 07:13 PM	#3
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	If you do have a good 180 thermostat you may have a bad sending unit or the guage could be out of calibration.Also it might not be the right sending unit for the guage. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

12-24-2003, 07:20 PM	#4
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	I agree, the guage could be bad.. 15-20 degrees off could be a possiblity. I acutally prefer a 195 degree stat for wintertime, but i have a 180 in the truck right now. Seems to work well for both summer and winter. With a 160 degree stat my heater has never very hot. __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

12-24-2003, 07:59 PM	#5
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	I have seen this a lot in trucks...maybe it has to do with all the airflow the radiator gets...you can put in a new stat drive down the road...it will heat up to 180, if that's what you have in there, but once it opens it never closes again and the truck wants to run around 160. I have never really solved the problem, but what I do is cut a piece of cardboard that covers about 3/4 of the radiator. With the cardboard in place your heat will work great. Kinda redneck but it works great and the price is right. I have done this on every older Chevy truck I have owned __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

12-25-2003, 01:36 PM	#6
nitor Too many projects Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Morrow, OH Posts: 344	tom hand, I've done that before. Had an old Ford once, it would never get hot. Put a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator, I was toasty warm after that. My 70 GMC has a 180 degree now, it gets too hot sometimes. __________________ Jim '55 Chevrolet Pickup '56 Chevrolet Belair '04 Chevrolet Astro '95 Chevrolet Blazer

12-25-2003, 01:40 PM	#7
FRENCHBLUE72 PROJECT 7DEUCE Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: GRANTS PASS OR Posts: 21,600	Mine has the card board motif also ... I tried all the thermo stat's and during the summer it will get to 190 when pulling a trailer but that's the hottest it get's.. __________________ GO BIG GREEN GO DUCKS MEMBER #6377 72 k-5 daily driver 6'' lift 35'' 350-350-205 slowly getting rust free. Project "7DEUCE" check out my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=267665 Tim Powell..R.I.P EastSideLowlife..... R.I.P..

12-25-2003, 08:36 PM	#8
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,281	if ya wanted something a little fancier i bet you could get a canvas shield kinda like the big trucks have made at a boat canvass shop that would look cool and be functional too __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

12-26-2003, 12:40 PM	#9
veltex Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Idaho Posts: 257	run a 180 in my bb, so far so good



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