This is topic which thermostat? 160,180,195,or none......... in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by gercolla1 (Member # 3068) on :
 
My mods are h/c/i and rebuit radiator and stock fan on a fox.
 

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Posted by st5150 (Member # 51) on :
 
180
 

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Posted by wilit (Member # 3367) on :
 
For the most power, you should run a 160. For the most longevity of the motor, you think of a 180 or 190. The proper operating temp for a SBF is 190-210, anything lower, and the wear in the cylinders and to the pistons/rings increases.
 

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Posted by Jeff S (Member # 371) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by st5150:
180

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Agreed... this may be a first!
 

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Posted by st5150 (Member # 51) on :
 
Probably


In all honesty, I don't think a thermostat makes that much of a difference as far as engine wear goes. A 180 thermo was the first mod I did to my car.... ~110,000 miles ago. I install a 160 thermo when I go to the track to keep the engine cooler between passes. I toss the stock 190 thermo back in every 2 years for SMOG.
 

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Posted by DropTopFox (Member # 1689) on :
 
I'm about to toss in a 160 for charging reason, I think it will make my fan opperate differently and then I won't hae to worry about shutting the fan on and off
 

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Posted by st5150 (Member # 51) on :
 
What you need is a 3G alternator upgrade. If you have one already, you need the over drive alternator pulley from Auto Specialties.
 

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Posted by 1SLOWLX (Member # 558) on :
 
180
 

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Posted by wilit (Member # 3367) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by st5150:
Probably


In all honesty, I don't think a thermostat makes that much of a difference as far as engine wear goes. A 180 thermo was the first mod I did to my car.... ~110,000 miles ago. I install a 160 thermo when I go to the track to keep the engine cooler between passes. I toss the stock 190 thermo back in every 2 years for SMOG.

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Don't you think if the engineers at Ford had intended you to use a 160° thermostat, it would have come from the factory with a 160° thermostat? Read any automotive text book, you'll find 80% of engine wear comes from driving during warm-up.

Here's some articles that point out the increased wear of using a 160° for daily use.

http://www.carnut.com/ramblin/cool3.html
http://www.federal-mogul.com/cda/content/front/0,2194,2442_897053_7519,00.html
http://www.dewitts.com/download/cooling.pdf
http://redfox340.tripod.com/wbodyperformance/id8.html
 

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Posted by Bill/APEX Motorsports (Member # 636) on :
 
I recommend a 180 deg. thermostat.

 

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Posted by st5150 (Member # 51) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by wilit:
Don't you think if the engineers at Ford had intended you to use a 160° thermostat, it would have come from the factory with a 160° thermostat? Read any automotive text book, you'll find 80% of engine wear comes from driving during warm-up.

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Hell, I don't think that the engineers at Ford intended for me to stick in a 5 speed and chirp the 1-2 shift every day, 250,000 miles later

Think about it for a second:

"Read any automotive text book, you'll find 80% of engine wear comes from driving during warm-up."


It does not matter if you have a 160,180,190 or 290 degree thermostat durring warm up. The first ~10 minutes of operation the thermostat will be closed regardless.

Can you give me 5 links on how synthetic oil will make my engine last longer, because after a quarter million miles of 99cents per quart oil and 180/160 thermostats, I better start changing my ways and figuring out how to get some durability out of this 302
 

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Posted by 94gt (Member # 3060) on :
 
Well, when I 1st bought my 94gt, It had a 160deg thermo in it, and boy, oh boy it kept getting up to the "A" and the "L" on me, bad news... So, JohnB suggested that I check and see if I had an stock one or not, and if not swap that out... well I ended putting in a stock replacement, and it helped aLOT.

but then a week later my water pump started to fail... lol.
 

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Posted by Blue Oval (Member # 2548) on :
 
I say 180 works best for me.but my other 89 has a 195 i think and it works great too. i had a 160 in it but it didnt like it much.my gas milage dropped.
 

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Posted by wilit (Member # 3367) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by st5150:


"Read any automotive text book, you'll find 80% of engine wear comes from driving during warm-up."


It does not matter if you have a 160,180,190 or 290 degree thermostat durring warm up. The first ~10 minutes of operation the thermostat will be closed regardless.

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quote:

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Originally posted by siri95:
okay okay, after reading all this.. send me to the right store to change my t-stat. im runing 160. and all of u guys make me want to get 180. so, wheres the nearest store and what should i get. and how much does it cost to put in.. cause i dont have the tools to do it.. thanks

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Kragens has them for $8 and buy the gaskets.. Two bolts it comes right off.. Make sure to drain half or radiator and check if top hose is empty then get to work...Should take 5-10 minz..

I NEVER done it but my boy did it in his and it seemed easy! Im getting 180 tomorrow from Kragens
 

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Posted by st5150 (Member # 51) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by siri95:
okay okay, after reading all this.. send me to the right store to change my t-stat. im runing 160. and all of u guys make me want to get 180. so, wheres the nearest store and what should i get. and how much does it cost to put in.. cause i dont have the tools to do it.. thanks

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quote:

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Originally posted by st5150:

quote:

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Originally posted by siri95:
okay okay, after reading all this.. send me to the right store to change my t-stat. im runing 160. and all of u guys make me want to get 180. so, wheres the nearest store and what should i get. and how much does it cost to put in.. cause i dont have the tools to do it.. thanks

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Do you have a chip turning on your electric fan sooner? If not, on '94+ stangs, a cooler thermostat with out a chip will only make your car take longer to warm up and make your car run cooler while cruising above ~40 mph.


Napa thermostat gaskets are my fave because they have a sticker on one side that holds the thermostat in place.

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i think ill get an 180*... its just i dont want anything bad happen to my car... seems to me 180* will make my car last longer.. rahter than my 160*


and is there a website i can seee..on how to put a thermostat on??
 

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Posted by st5150 (Member # 51) on :
 
Don't worry about the 160* making your motor "die" sooner. Think about it for a bit and then do a search if need be....... When was the last time you heard of a 5.O dying due to a thermostat????
 

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Posted by wilit (Member # 3367) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by st5150:
Don't worry about the 160* making your motor "die" sooner. Think about it for a bit and then do a search if need be....... When was the last time you heard of a 5.O dying due to a thermostat????

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Yeah, I hope our discussion has scared the crap out of you. It won't explode after 3 days of driving with a 160° thermostat. It's the über-long term affects you have to think about.
 

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Posted by cobraracer46 (Member # 1142) on :
 
195 is the way to go.
 

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