thermostat recommendation

[Anthony P.]

looking for some input on the best brand thermostat to install in a 66 427, I want to go with a 160 degree but don't have a good grasp on the preferred brand. any input is appreciated. have always use Stant on other vehicles but not sold on them!

[Ed S.]

Re: thermostat recomendation

I don't have any experience with BBs but, I believe conventional wisdom will advise that the best thermostats for SBs are manufactured by a company called Robert Shaw. It is probably true for BB as well. They are made in the USA and unlike OEM, service replacements and units made just about everwhere else, a Robert Shaw thermostat is designed to fail open - if it does fail, as opposed to failing closed like all the rest which results in an overheating situation fast. As far as temp range - I would recommend going with the original spec range vise lower or higher. If you have to go to a different spec thermostat to maintain a satisfactory operating temp then something else is wrong, fan is not working properly, shroud parts are missing, timing is off, cooling passages (or radiator) are clogged. Resorting to a different spec thermostat is not "fixing" the problem.

[Leif A.]

Re: thermostat recomendation

Not sure why you're wanting to go with a 160* thermostat versus the recommended 180*, but that wasn't your question. I prefer a FlowKooler Robert Shaw thermostat #330-180 about $19 from Summit, although I'm sure the Stant is an excellent product.

[Gene M.]

Re: thermostat recomendation

It really makes no difference between 160 and 180 as it will just take a bit longer for the temperature to max out with the 160.

This debate on 180 vs 160 has gone on since Lassie was a pup.

[Edward J.]

Re: thermostat recomendation

Gene, 160 Thermostats sometimes do not give the coolant in radiator enough time to cool , Corvettes seem to have enough problems on hot days keeping the engine cool. once the engine and radiator reach's 160 the thermostat is basicly full open.

[Duke W.]

Re: thermostat recommendation

looking for some input on the best brand thermostat to install in a 66 427, I want to go with a 160 degree but don't have a good grasp on the preferred brand. any input is appreciated. have always use Stant on other vehicles but not sold on them!

If you're having a problem with "overheating", a 160 thermostat won't help. Once it's full open temperature will continue to climb, but will take a little longer to reach steady state.

If your engine is a L-72 the problem, assuming all other cooling system components are in good operating condition, is the ported vacuum advance. Convert it to full time and the easy way is to tee into the choke vacuum break hose. It's best to get a couple of feet of 1/8" tubing and a tee and make a new harness. After the conversion you will need to go through the idle speed/mixture adjustment procedure and lower the fast idle down to spec.

If the engine is a L-36, I believe it has full time vacuum advance, but does the VAC actually work and meet spec?

Duke

[Anthony P.]

Re: thermostat recommendation

Thanks for the info guys! No issues with overheating, but I did not know the Robert Shaw fails open so based on that I will get one of those.

Once again you guys came through!

[Gene M.]

Re: thermostat recomendation

Gene, 160 Thermostats sometimes do not give the coolant in radiator enough time to cool .......

That makes no sense, it has nothing to do with the flow rate. Any thermostat will reach full open at some point. Think about it.

[Joe L.]

Re: thermostat recommendation

looking for some input on the best brand thermostat to install in a 66 427, I want to go with a 160 degree but don't have a good grasp on the preferred brand. any input is appreciated. have always use Stant on other vehicles but not sold on them!

Anthony-----

A C2 or C3 cooling system is not capable of maintaining anything near a 160 degree operating temperature, except, perhaps, in ultra cold weather conditions (when these cars are rarely operated). As such, using a 160 degree thermostat is pointless. I use and recommend only a 180 degree thermostat. I do prefer the RobertShaw type, if you can find one.

In addition, even if a C2 or C3 cooling system could maintain a 160 degree operating temperature, that would not necessarily be a good thing. There is such a thing as running too cool and, in my opinion, 160 degrees is too low of an operating temperature.

[Ed S.]

Re: thermostat recommendation

You can get a RobertSwaw thermostat from Summit Racing. Apparently RobertShaw is owned or marketed by a company called FlowKooler. See the info at the link. I checked my records, that is where I got mine from.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/bra-330-160

[Joe L.]

Re: thermostat recommendation

You can get a RobertSwaw thermostat from Summit Racing. Apparently RobertShaw is owned or marketed by a company called FlowKooler. See the info at the link. I checked my records, that is where I got mine from.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/bra-330-160

Ed------


Believe me, Robertshaw is not owned by FlowKooler. Robertshaw is a large industrial firm which manufactures a broad range of products, mostly related to various types of controllers. FlowKooler is "microscopic" compared to Robertshaw.

It may be that Robertshaw still manufactures these thermostats but only on special order from FlowKooler. As far as I know, Robertshaw does not otherwise supply these to the aftermarket at the present time. They used to but I don't think they do anymore. It may also be that these thermostats are manufactured by some other company under license from Robertshaw and for FlowKooler.

[Anthony P.]

Re: thermostat recommendation

I ordered a robert Shaw 180* stat last night should be here in a week, As I said earlier it does not overheat (one must drive it for it to heat up) LOL
Just wanted to replace the one in it and flush the anti-freeze out as it has been in the car for over 25 years,, Maybe next spring I will drive it around!


Thanks to everyone for the help!