That's what I've always looked for as ideal out of a SBC setup. Drop in a 180° thermostat, and keep good oil in it, and you won't have any problems... Jon Black
jeffrob, I have an SBC in a ford with the stock ford radiatorwith an electric fan thermo is 165 and fan switches on at 185 but mine could run at 165-170 while driving and in stop and go it jumps very quick to 190-210. For me it's time for a new radiator. Oil at start up is at about 70 only because of my electric choke and at idle it's about 35......i think..hope this helps aaron
If I am running no heater, should I delete the thermostat? Or is it better to run with one? Thanks for yo hep.
Thanks for your help. I have an original radiator, 57 chebby, if the yahoos at taco hell take too long making my mexi melts, my thermo creeps up to 200. Maybe I should add an electric fan too? Or just replace radiator? Are you running the regular fan in addition to an electric fan?
That radiator should work just fine...Getting up to 200 won't hurt ya. You don't want to add an additional fan...maybe look into a bigger mechanical blade, or swapping out completely for an electric fan. JB
coolant temp should be at least 160, preferably 180, and it should not get so hot that it boils. Other than that don't worry about it. 200 is fine, 210 is fine, 220 is getting to where it might want to boil if it gets much warmer, so you ought to do something to make the cooling system work better--bigger radiator, bigger mechanical fan and/or better shroud.
The Jalopy Journal
