What was the stock thermostat temperature?

I have a 180 in it now and the temperature gauge is just shy of the 1/4 mark. I am concerned that the gauge may need to be rebuilt/replaced.

------------------
Redrum (or Mike)

68 Corvette - 383 CI, 427 HP, 700R4, 12.56 @ 108 MPH
69 SS Chevelle - 502 CI, 610 HP, 2004R, 1320 unknown
97 Z-28 - totally stock still under 14,000 miles

"Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar."
*Drew Carey

180 seems to be what we put in also. May want to check your sending unit also before you send the gauge in.

------------------
Micky Hale Restorations
69 L-89 Chevelle
68 Biscayne 427/425
34 Plymouth Drag Car
ACES #134
www.mickyhale.com (http://www.mickyhale.com)

Mike,

The factory thermo spec is 195*. However I like most am running 180*. I wouldn't reccomend any lower as our Big Blocks need heat to make power.
If it's running too hot check for other problems before just throwing a lower degree thermostat at it. Fan, fan shroud, radiator ect.
Guages are funny things sometimes. Is it a factory gauge? Seems like mine runns about 1/2 to 3/4 scale (more inbetween 5/8 scale). All my gauges were rebuilt and calibrated last winter.

------------------
FastSS396Man
Brian

Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manflqtr3.jpg), Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manflqtr2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manrrqtr3.jpg),
Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manint1.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manint2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396mantrunk2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manfrchassis.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manexh.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manengine1.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manrchas1.jpg)
69' SS396 Chevelle
L78 396/375hp
M-21 Close Ratio
Cortez Silver
10 year Resto
It's brand new again!
02' Harley FatBoy, Diamond Ice Pearl and lots of chrome!
ACES# 3466

Don't really know if my factory gauge reads correctly and there are no numbers on it, but mine seems to read just under the 1/4 mark about 90% of the time. In 'steamy' temperatures or in delayed traffic situations it slides up to about the 1/4 mark. I am happy with the operating temperature and never get anything out the overflow. Unfortunately I can't say what degree of thermostat is in it.

My heat comes from the headers through the floors with no carpets or underlay (300 Deluxe Model).



------------------
ACES #4241, TC #947
69 SS Sedan (http://www.angelfire.com/rock/69ss)
CanAm Chevelle Club (http://www.angelfire.com/folk/canam)

Thanks for the information! No, mine sure does not run hot! I had a custom built 5 row , thin vane radiator built with the stock tanks. I was just concerned about the guage but it sounds correct from what you have posted.

------------------
Redrum (or Mike)

68 Corvette - 383 CI, 427 HP, 700R4, 12.56 @ 108 MPH
69 SS Chevelle - 502 CI, 610 HP, 2004R, 1320 unknown
97 Z-28 - totally stock still under 14,000 miles

"Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar."
*Drew Carey