Thermostat question...

I have a '56 265 PP motor stock with an Offy 360° intake and an Edelbrock 1404 (500cfm) carb. Here is my problem???

I have an 180° thermostat and driving down the highway, it stays 150-160°, which kinda worries me, it's only been in the 50-60s now.. what happens when it gets into the teens? Ideling it'll go to 210°. I have replaced the thermostat 3 times and have used a lazer thermal gun on it to double check my guage. My exhaust manifold is running around 450°(if I remember right).... Any ideas?

When does a 180° thermostat open.... is it full open at 180° or starts to open at 180°?

 

Are you running a crazy radiator? I had a 350 with a 180* tstat that would run all day long at 190 (as long as the outside temp was below 110). I have a 180* tstat in my Y block and the temp is staying at about 183 or so right now.

 

Check for any vacuum leaks? I mean deep like manifold at head inside lifter valley.Have you read your plugs to see if your lean?

 

Stock '56 radiator for a Powerglide (has tranny cooler built in)....

It's not running lean, plugs are good. No vac leaks....

Brings up an intersting thought though. The idle is around 900 RPM, stock it should be 600(or is it 500), but the intake and carb are not stock. Idle adjust is adjusted all the way in, not even touching the stop.

 

OK, then hows your coolant flow? Impeller on waterpump still there?

 

I'd say so, if not she'd be overheating.... not being too cool...

 

Sorry I mis read the post.Here in Texas people I deal with have the opposite problem.OVERHEATING. I know from experience that some thermostats are way off.Pull yours out and check it on the stove with a thermometer in water.Also the opening in the stat might be to big "not restricting flow enough".

 

I've done that. I have also replace the thermostat 3 times (2 different mfgs).

 

Stumped.Do you have a shroud?

 

No shrowd....

 

Also to point out,210 may be do to lack of airflow through the core at idle.Fan shroud? 150-160 on the highway is normal,some might call it a blessing.

 

Some might call it no heat when it hits the teens this winter... I drive mine all year long...snow and all...

 

If no shroud is wanted try a different fan with more pitch. I think you are on the answer here.

 

Thats what my 54 does. Scared me at first.......no steam, a dream!

 

Go to a 195 t- stat and a shroud, or a fan with more pitch.

 

More pitch would grab more air... less pitch would grab less air. My understanding the thermostat shouldn't even be open at 150°..... Yes, I know it's wierd.... no one has found the answer yet... even on ChevyTalk..

 

Yes more pitch would grab more air at idle which is what I would wan`t in your case.Get a flex fan with more pitch that way at highway speeds it will pull less air.

 

I'm wanting to stay vintage looking... so a flex is out of the question. I don't think 210° is bad... it won't go any higher after 20 minutes... just levels out. As soon as I start rolling, back down to 150-160° again. Stock thermostat is suppose to be a 160°...

 

Quit worrying. The car will warm up enough, even in cold weather. Unless you are trying to run the motor for a million miles, it won't make enough difference to even think about it.

 

Paint the fan black no one will know. Hell, my 61 wagon has a 468 in it I made it appear so stock that It fools most people into thinking thats what came in the car.Ive mastered the art of telling people with a straght face that its a 283...Hee Hee Hee.

 

Are you sure that 160* is the stock thermostat? I don't know that far back, but I've always seen 195* as stock for most cars. I second the idea for a 195* thermostat.
On the other hand, if the water is 160* then the fan will be blowing over a heater core that is 160*. Are you sure that won't get the heater hot enough? I'd still go with the higher T-Stat.