My 454 will have a dual electric fan setup and I'm hoping it won't get too hot.
The guy at summit said these fans aren't made to run all the time. That they will burn up prematurely if run all the time.
So is it better to run without a thermo to stay cooler?

I wouldn't run it without a thermostat. An engine that runs to cool has a tendency to develop sludge on the inside. 185 deg to 195 deg is what you want. Then your engine will better clean itself internally. Your oil filter can trap dirt and carbon better because the hot oil will make the contaminants suspend.

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jodysss396 (or Jody)
1969 Chevelle SS396
Fathom Green
Numbers Matching
TC member #921

Yes you should always run a thermastat no matter what fan, rad,you use. It will keep the consistant temp your engine needs not to hot or to cold.
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Brett
'67
SS396
clone

the problem with not running a thermostat is that the coolant can pass through the radiator too fast, so fast that it doesnt have time to give off the heat it is carrying to the cooling fins...resulting in running hotter than if you had the tstat installed. I doubt you will have problems if you run a 160 tstat, but if that is still too hot moroso makes a set of different size washers you can install instead of the tstat. They are basically restrictors, and slow down the water enough to let the radiator work without running the tstat.

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Dave (NY)
70 chevelle ss396 conv
66 chevelle ss396 hdp/conv
72 chevelle
55 chevy prostreet
69/71 camaros
61 impala bubbletop
TC member #493

thanks guys!!

I believe that if you have an overdesigned cooling system, then a thermostat is a good idea. But in my case, keeping a 540 ci engine cool (180 to 200 deg f) on the street, a thermostat doesn't help. I have tried thermostats and restrictors and they didn't make a noticeable difference in temperature.

I should add that I use a Be Cool aluminum radiator, an electric water pump and electric fans with a shroud, so my water velocity is constant and air flow at idle is always good.

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It’s a BIGger BLOCK!

i was running pretty hot...i did and acid flush of the system because i had a lot or rust in the water and removed the t stat... has been running cooler by 10-20* ever since..

note: you can make a restrictor plate by knocking the guts out of an old t stat

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Rich
Cocoa Beach, Fla
Team Chevelle #380
wa3men@aol.com
www.chevelles.com/showroom/70_SS_454.jpg (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/70_SS_454.jpg)