Woundering if a high flow thermostate will do any good as far a lowering the tempature on a stock 396/360 hp with stock radiator used fo street application? Or will it just move the water through faster with no change in engine temp? Thanks.

I noticed about a 5-10* drop in temp, but I have a high-flow Eddy pump.

Figure it cant hurt!

The combination of a hi flow water pump and hi flow t/stat are always a good bet .
a standard t/stat will cause 65% restriction in the system even full open .
The job of the t/stat is to restrict flow in the efficient cooling system to keep fluid in the block to collect heat and modulate temps .... with out it you may not get up to temps in a good system .. if the system is week .. such as a too small or un efficient rad for the BTU'S generated by the motor .. then even with no t/stat temps would clime to 210 and so on .

to see how capable your system is .. pull the stat all together .. then see where temps go to .

3 keys to cooling
1 a efficient rad
2 good flow - hi flow water pump and t/stat
3 plenty of cfm threw the rad .. the more the better .

Don

Water pump is original 66 BB pump. If I read you right Don, you are saying to pull the thermostate out and see what temp the engine runs at? If engine temp runs at 200 or less then the system is OK and using a high flow thermostate would be OK and lower the engine temp by say 5-10 degrees?

Water pump is original 66 BB pump. If I read you right Don, you are saying to pull the thermostate out and see what temp the engine runs at? If engine temp runs at 200 or less then the system is OK and using a high flow thermostate would be OK and lower the engine temp by say 5-10 degrees?

With no restriction /valve/ t/stat .. the coolant has less time to pick up heat generated by the motor ...this makes it a easyer job for the rad to expell heat ....some guys in the circle track arena .. will have restrictor plates rather then t/stat for out side temps and rpm there running that night .

so to see what your system is capable of running at pull the t/stat so theres no restriction at all
Don

thanks,

With no restriction /valve/ t/stat .. the coolant has less time to pick up heat generated by the motor ...this makes it a easyer job for the rad to expell heat ....some guys in the circle track arena .. will have restrictor plates rather then t/stat for out side temps and rpm there running that night .

so to see what your system is capable of running at pull the t/stat so theres no restriction at all
Don

Actually read this about thermostats. and restrictors...

http://www.stewartcomponents.com/tech_tips/Tech_Tips_3.htm

The fable about coolant going too fast through the engine and radiator to transfer heat won't die...If it was true, same principle would have you getting cold more slowly when the wind is blowing on your bare skin than if it is calm...

My $0.02

I put a 180* high flow stat in my 454 with no other changes and it mostly stays at 180*. On very hot days with alot of idling it will get up to 190*. Prior to the stat change I would see temps as high as 215*.

interesting article from stewart warner. Not quite sure what they mean when they refer to a low pressure radiator cap with a down flow radiator on older cars causing problems when engine is at high rpms. They seem to indicate that pressure builds up and coolant will spill out. The car has a 15 lb cap with an original down flow Harrison radiator. Has anyone used their high flow thermostate?

Well I pulled the t/state today. Not a great test since it was 70* outside temp. After a full warm up the car idled at 150-155 (checked heads around the intake area, the intake, etc). When running the car up to around 5000rpm's a couple of times in succession, according to temp guage in car it stayed about the 150-155 range.

The t/stat I pulled had a 180* stamp. With it installed car ran at around 185 according to infared guage at outside temp of 80* or less. With outside temp of 90* engine temp seem to be around 205*. Radiator is a re- cored 3 row original Harrison with original 66 BB water pump.

Would I conclude a high flow t/stat would reduce engine temps when it is warmer outside?

What type of t/stat would you guys recommend? I am thinking of one with the 3 little holes drilled to allow some flow when it is closed. Thanks.

Well I pulled the t/state today. Not a great test since it was 70* outside temp. After a full warm up the car idled at 150-155 (checked heads around the intake area, the intake, etc). When running the car up to around 5000rpm's a couple of times in succession, according to temp guage in car it stayed about the 150-155 range.

The t/stat I pulled had a 180* stamp. With it installed car ran at around 185 according to infared guage at outside temp of 80* or less. With outside temp of 90* engine temp seem to be around 205*. Radiator is a re- cored 3 row original Harrison with original 66 BB water pump.

Would I conclude a high flow t/stat would reduce engine temps when it is warmer outside?

What type of t/stat would you guys recommend? I am thinking of one with the 3 little holes drilled to allow some flow when it is closed. Thanks.

THIS SEEMS TO BE THE PREFERED CHOICE IN T/STATS
http://www.stewartcomponents.com/tech_tips/Tech_Tips_3.htm
Don