Thermostat operation

[Steve D.]

Re: Thermostat operation

Joe

One other question: What is different about '65 and later small blocks that required a change in the thermostat temp spec from the small blocks before '65?

Steve

PS_ I installed the Rboertshaw thermostat.

[Steve D.]

Re: Thermostat operation

Joe

One other question: What is different about '65 and later small blocks that required a change in the thermostat temp spec from the small blocks before '65?

Steve

PS_ I installed the Rboertshaw thermostat.

[Joe L.]

Re: Thermostat operation

Steve-----

There was not necessarily a change. Some pre-65 used the 180 degree, also. Why others used the 160 degree, I do not know. I expect that a lot of it had to do with the evolution of engine materials and a better understanding that combustion efficiency could be improved by a modest increase in engine operating temperature.

[Joe L.]

Re: Thermostat operation

Steve-----

There was not necessarily a change. Some pre-65 used the 180 degree, also. Why others used the 160 degree, I do not know. I expect that a lot of it had to do with the evolution of engine materials and a better understanding that combustion efficiency could be improved by a modest increase in engine operating temperature.

[John H.]

Re: Thermostat operation

I've bought Robertshaw #330-180 high-flow thermostats for every project car I've built for many years - never had a problem - quality piece.

[John H.]

Re: Thermostat operation

I've bought Robertshaw #330-180 high-flow thermostats for every project car I've built for many years - never had a problem - quality piece.

[Duke W.]

Re: Thermostat operation

Back in the forties and maybe somewhat into the fifties most cars used 160 degree thermostats, but with the introduction of "permanent" type antifreeze (ethylene glycol based) 180 became the standard along with higher rated pressure caps. The OEMs understood the importance of higher operating temperatures, paticularly with regard to less crankcase dilution from blowby. Circa 1965 Corvette News ran an article titled "Engines like to run Hot", which outlined all the reasons for running at 180 or above.

The old alcohol based antifreezes boiled off over time, which is why thermostatss were only 160 prior to the general adoption of ethylene glycol.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: Thermostat operation

Back in the forties and maybe somewhat into the fifties most cars used 160 degree thermostats, but with the introduction of "permanent" type antifreeze (ethylene glycol based) 180 became the standard along with higher rated pressure caps. The OEMs understood the importance of higher operating temperatures, paticularly with regard to less crankcase dilution from blowby. Circa 1965 Corvette News ran an article titled "Engines like to run Hot", which outlined all the reasons for running at 180 or above.

The old alcohol based antifreezes boiled off over time, which is why thermostatss were only 160 prior to the general adoption of ethylene glycol.

Duke

[John H.]

Re: Thermostat operation

Duke -

When I was a senior in college (1961), I ran a Shell gas station in East Lansing at night to pay the bills, and I still remember the 55-gallon drum out back on sawhorses with a spigot in it that was full of blue alcohol anti-freeze; we had it to take care of the college kids who needed anti-freeze during the Michigan winters to keep their beaters going, but couldn't afford the "good stuff" (ethylene glycol) we had inside in gallons. They all needed 150-160 thermostats so the alky-based stuff didn't boil off.

[John H.]

Re: Thermostat operation

Duke -

When I was a senior in college (1961), I ran a Shell gas station in East Lansing at night to pay the bills, and I still remember the 55-gallon drum out back on sawhorses with a spigot in it that was full of blue alcohol anti-freeze; we had it to take care of the college kids who needed anti-freeze during the Michigan winters to keep their beaters going, but couldn't afford the "good stuff" (ethylene glycol) we had inside in gallons. They all needed 150-160 thermostats so the alky-based stuff didn't boil off.

[Clem Z.]

alcohol anti freeze story

back when i was much younger my friend said he found his dads "DAGO RED" home made wine. it was stored in 1 gal wine jugs and you can guess the rest it was alcohol anti freeze. good thing we only tasted it and we knew the it was not wine. like was posted before you took it out of the car and stored it in the summer months. another old time auto trick was to fill a flat pan with sand,pour in some gasoline and set it on fire, slid under the oil pan to get the engine to start in very cold weather. how many of you guys remember the old defrosters the were held to the inside of windshield with suction cups and had heater wires running thu them. i still have a brand new one in a box somewhere in my stuff. yes those were the good old days?

[Clem Z.]

alcohol anti freeze story

back when i was much younger my friend said he found his dads "DAGO RED" home made wine. it was stored in 1 gal wine jugs and you can guess the rest it was alcohol anti freeze. good thing we only tasted it and we knew the it was not wine. like was posted before you took it out of the car and stored it in the summer months. another old time auto trick was to fill a flat pan with sand,pour in some gasoline and set it on fire, slid under the oil pan to get the engine to start in very cold weather. how many of you guys remember the old defrosters the were held to the inside of windshield with suction cups and had heater wires running thu them. i still have a brand new one in a box somewhere in my stuff. yes those were the good old days?

[John H.]

Re: alcohol anti freeze story - suction cups

Friend of mine had two of those stuck to the windshield many years ago on his '49 Ford; the lighter plug they were connected to melted, shorted the lighter wire to ground, fried his dash harness

[John H.]

Re: alcohol anti freeze story - suction cups

Friend of mine had two of those stuck to the windshield many years ago on his '49 Ford; the lighter plug they were connected to melted, shorted the lighter wire to ground, fried his dash harness

[Jim T.]

Re: alcohol anti freeze story

Cold start methods brings to mind of when the 6 volt battery system would not start my Dad's old 49 Plymouth it was common to hand crank the Allis-Chambers tractor, get it started, put water in it, pull the Plymouth and get it started. Shut down the tractor and open the block and radiator drain cocks and let the water drain out. Learned real quick about kick back in hand cranking that tractor on cold mornings.