I have been scouring parts books online, checked local parts stores and I am having a devil of a time trying to find a 160 degree thermostat for a 351 Cleveland engine. It takes a different one than the Windsor engine and I am coming up empty-handed. Can someone give me a part number for the 160 degree 'stat? I would prefer Stant but at this point I am open to all. Thanks
Do you mean the one that has the extra valve to close off the port at the bottom of the port in the block? I need the info too! All part numbers that I have come up with have been superseded to a conventional looking unit.
Here's a Stant 160 thermostat off ebay australia, no part number mentioned but if you go to ebay Australia website and type in Ford cleveland thermostat a shitload of them will come up. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/STANT-16...289-302-351-/131062637771?hash=item1e83f124cb
They are a bitch to get... and 1/2 the thermostats I've gotten have been bad when tested... You want the Stant 29468 if you can find it. I believe Napa sells it under the part number of "197".
Also, I've been through this... When you finally get a thermostat and you go to install it, park on a hill with the front of your car higher than the back. Then run the car with the cap off and keep filling it with water as it over flows. Apparently, there are some serious air pockets in the back of a Cleveland motor and getting the air out and water in can be a real challenge.
Stants are OK stats but if you want it to stay cool you want a fast acting performance T stat. I am going to guess that you want it to stay cool by the 160 degree stat. Moroso makes a good fast acting T stat as well as believe it or not Mr gasket. Otherwise if you want a stant use the numbers the boss gave you and go to or call NAPA.
Brand Temp Part No. Notes Stant 180 29468 Cleveland specific; this is the one I used Stant 192 29469 Cleveland specific Stant 180 13468 Cleveland specific Stant 192 13469 Cleveland specific Stant 192 S-346-192 Gates 180 33128 Cleveland specific Gates 192 33129 Cleveland specific RobertShaw 180 333-180 Cleveland specific Ford/Motorcraft 180 RT-310 Cleveland specific Ford/Motorcraft 192 RT-139 Cleveland specific; 70-73 351C,351CJ, & Boss 351 Ford 180 D7PZ-8575-A Cleveland specific Napa 180 197 Cleveland specific
Ryan you sound like the voice of Cleveland experience. Thanks for the heads-up. I've had this Cleveland in my Model A for thirty years and I suppose the 'stat has been in it almost that long. I will follow up on these leads right away.
Mark T Thanks for the listing of part numbers. These all appear to be either 180 or 195 degree 'stats. Do you know of any 160 degree numbers for a Cleveland?
I looked but couldn't find a single listing for a 160 Check out this Ebay listing, this guy takes a Robert Shaw thermostat and modifies it for use in a 351C. I read about him on a 351C forum, maybe he or someone you know can make one out of a new 160 thermostat thermostatshttp://www.ebay.com/itm/351C-Robertshaw-Thermostat-195F-Degree-The-Correct-One-with-Copper-Skirt-351c-/181796490667?hash=item2a53ea4dab You can add the skirt to this one to make a 160; http://www.summitracing.com/parts/bra-330-160/overview/ Problem solved.
..... none of those in the photos have the extra flapper valve on the bottom. Maybe they just use a generic photo? I'll defiantly take a list of those numbers next time I run for parts. Thanks MarkT
I'm not familiar with any flapper valve on a 351C thermostat The only difference that I'm aware of is the extension on the bottom side Cleveland on the left and the Windsor on the right, note the extension on the left one, this is what seals against the bypass restrictor plate inside the 351C block;
I've seen darn few hot rods that would run at 160 regardless of the thermostat. Might as well put in a 180 and pray that it will even run that cool.
I have tried running no thermostat at all and the engine would barely get to 170 degrees. While I don't want it to overheat I don't think 170 will keep the moisture and other contaminants out of the oil.
The Ford 351C engine family (351C, 351M, 400) is unique in the way the thermostat works. Without the little collared extension on the thermostat, a percentage of the water will bypass the radiator even after the thermostat opens. The real problems come when someone hot tanks the block and dissolves the brass water restrictor that the open thermostat presses against to close the bypass. Later (351M/400) use a cast-in-place restriction in the block but the 351C always has the brass plate. They are almost impossible to find in local parts houses and very few places even know what you are talking about if you ask for one. I have seen a few 351C specialty places that have the replacement restrictor plates. They were never readily available for Ford and have been discontinued for many years now. Occasionally you may run across someone who has made up a batch and put them on Ebay. One guy even sells them as a package with the Robertshaw thermostat, http://www.ebay.com/itm/351C-BUNDLE...ate-/181803569358?hash=item2a545650ce&vxp=mtr Pricey, but necessary if you are fighting overheating in a 351C.
My block has the necessary restrictor plate. That is good information about water bypassing the radiator. I have never had a problem with this engine overheating until recently when I had to replace the 'stat and it has been downhill since. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
The Jalopy Journal
