My 1959 FI low hp car was very hard to start when hot this summer (I live in SF area of CA). Sometimes I would have to rev the engine for a minute or more to avoid stalling. The car would not idle for more than a minute.
Based on some advice found in the archives, I added inserted some foil between the intake manifold and the spider lines. This seemed to help. Reduced the required rev time to 45 seconds or so on a hot start.
My 180 degree thermostat was acting funny, staying at 180 degrees most of the time. But it would frequently surge up to 210 and then back down to 180 for no apparet reason. I could be headed down hill at 60mph in mild weather and it would surge.
On a lark, I replaced the 180 degree thermostat with a 160 degree thermostat I had on the shelf. The 160 degree thermostat stopped the surging problem, and holds the temp at 160 or less.
But the 160 degree thermostat also apparently eliminated my hot starting problem. When I hot start now, the car is just slighty rough at idle for a few seconds. I can drive away in 10 to 15 seconds without any problem.
The C1 Service Guide (ST-12) suggests using a 170 degree thermostat with permanent antifreeze, and a 160 degree thermostat with alcohol antifreeze. I have not found anything from back in the day recommending a 180 degree themostat.
I know that 180 degree thermostats are the popular choice now - car runs better with less wear and tear on the engine. But, when combined with modern gas, are the 180 degree thermostats helping cause the hot starting problems that many FI owners are having?
1959 Corvette
Based on some advice found in the archives, I added inserted some foil between the intake manifold and the spider lines. This seemed to help. Reduced the required rev time to 45 seconds or so on a hot start.
My 180 degree thermostat was acting funny, staying at 180 degrees most of the time. But it would frequently surge up to 210 and then back down to 180 for no apparet reason. I could be headed down hill at 60mph in mild weather and it would surge.
On a lark, I replaced the 180 degree thermostat with a 160 degree thermostat I had on the shelf. The 160 degree thermostat stopped the surging problem, and holds the temp at 160 or less.
But the 160 degree thermostat also apparently eliminated my hot starting problem. When I hot start now, the car is just slighty rough at idle for a few seconds. I can drive away in 10 to 15 seconds without any problem.
The C1 Service Guide (ST-12) suggests using a 170 degree thermostat with permanent antifreeze, and a 160 degree thermostat with alcohol antifreeze. I have not found anything from back in the day recommending a 180 degree themostat.
I know that 180 degree thermostats are the popular choice now - car runs better with less wear and tear on the engine. But, when combined with modern gas, are the 180 degree thermostats helping cause the hot starting problems that many FI owners are having?
1959 Corvette
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