Themostat Help

[jpstiles02]

Folks



When I did my intake manifold gasket a few weeks ago I replaced the thermosat with a 180º (recommended by computer), but I pulled a 160º out of the truck.

1. The truck is now reading right before the "H" at normal operating temp where before it always read right past the "C".

2. The style of the thermostats are different, one pulled out had a round enclosure, where the Stant that was installed was "open" (regular style)??

I really want to get back towards the "C"!!! Any ideas?



Thanks in Advance



'66 Ford F-250 352 V8

 

[Chris142]

shoot it with an infrared temp gun and see if it's runnning that hot (220-230).if its not then your sender or guage is bad.

 

[heynow]

One of the following:

1. Truck is now running at proper temp
2. Temp sensor inaccurate
3. Thermostat faulty

No reason to go back toward the C unless you are overheating.

 

[jpstiles02]

What is the best place to shoot? I replaced Sending unit when the intake was off...

 

[HerrStig]

Back when Volvo offered a "summer" and a "winter" stat the gauge always read higher with the winter (182 degree) stat installed. You went from 160, which is pretty cool these days, to 180 and the gauge is reflecting that. I am sure you can find an OEM type 160 on the internet, and given your climate, it might be the best choice, but I'll bet, with modern oil, 180 won't hurt your engine a bit. You'll get more heater outpu in cold weather , but I suspect you don't need that very often.

 

[SrDriver]

The 180 degree thermostat will give you better gas mileage. Too you replaced both the thermostat and sending unit so that could cause the reading you are seeing.

Heater will work better too as mentioned above.

 

[Trav]

This is the engine with hot restart oil pressure issues correct?
Ford list a reverse poppet style for this engine, get an OEM thermostat and can the Stant (junk).
180f is fine but 160f is not an issue where you live either and may have been in there for a reason.
Try a 180f of the correct type, if its still to hot go to a 160f and look for some sort of cooling system issue.

I had a feeling this thing was getting plenty hot when you posted about the oil pressure not coming back for a few seconds when it gets hot.

Info on reverse poppet.

http://www.gates.com/common/printthis.cfm?BROCHURE=2475&printthis=yes&global

PM bdcardinal for info on the correct Tstat, he is a Ford parts guy with a lot of experience and is a great help.

Edit: This is a 1966 352 ci engine, don't go by temps found on newer engines. 160f was very common in these old engines in warm climates.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: jpstiles02
What is the best place to shoot? I replaced Sending unit when the intake was off...
Did you forget to put any ground wires back on?

I'm betting on a bad guage or bad Constant Voltage Regulator(this gives the guages a constant 5v). 180 is what it would have had when it was new. So assuming that it's now running 180-190 you have a guage problem.

Really nothing wrong with the Stant design. It's fine for your truck.

 

[jpstiles02]

Yes Trav it is the one with the oil pressure issue, I am glad to know what the style is called, will look for one now. The sending unit tracks up smoothly as the engine warms up. Thanks!! That Stant did seem kind of flimsy compared to the one I pulled out!

This is the one I have installed
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_thermostat-180-degrees-fahrenheit-stant_5653010-p?navigationPath=L1*14922%7CL2*15023

 

[mechtech2]

Keep the 180 in there. A 185- 195 would be even better for efficiency and economy.

 

[Trav]

Stant has become a real iffy brand over the last few years, nothing like the OEM type quality they had years ago.

There was something about the cooling system in these old 352's and 390's that vintage but i cant remember, its going too far back.
IIRC these cars didn't have a full fan shroud just a top piece correct?

Like i said PM bdcardinal and talk to him, he may have some old info, minimum he will probably have the correct part#.
Member Overkill is big into old Fords also.

 

[OVERKILL]

Is the OE stat still available through Ford? That would be where I would start. Otherwise, if you have access to a mechanical coolant temp gauge at least you could verify the actual temperature you are running at rather than relying on the rather vague stock gauge.

 

[jpstiles02]

This what it calls for, would NAPA have this?

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~dyndetail~Z5Z5Z50000024g~Z5Z5Z540009~P6.00~~~~S3MY0HFZZK98163211824O~Z5Z5Z5~Z5Z5Z50000024G

 

[Trav]

That's the one i had visualized when you said its a 352. I don't think NAPA will have this but it doesn't hurt to ask.
Try Ford. Very common items are sometimes available even when they are from the stone age. IIRC this style may have been used in other applications along with some big blocks like the 428 CJ even later than 67.
If not buy it from this company.

I got an NOS VV carb for a Lincoln from a dealer last year for a guy. The thing had to be 32+ yrs old, so its possible.

 

[jpstiles02]

Asking ford for help w/ anything before 1980 is Greek to them!

 

[Trav]

Maybe just get the one online?

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: jpstiles02


'66 Ford F-250 352 V8



I think there are a lot of variables here and really nobody but your can give youself the perfect answer. First, if you are using the original factory temp gauge, (and out sounds like you are) they can be very inaccurate, especially that it's almost 50 years old. While you may not want to keep it in place permanently, you should probably install an aftermarket gauge just to see how the two compare. Second, how good is your radiator? Is it original? Does it have any or is it full of scale? And also because of your location, do you do towing with it or is it just a work vehicle that drives from point A to point B? The thermostats on the old Ford FE engines are not that hard to change. I'd experiment with a few different ranges of thermostats and see what works best for your truck. Remember that a cold thermostat will give you the most engine wear and oil deposits. Also, unless this is some museum piece, consider putting an overflow tank on this vehicle and making it a closed system to keep the air out of the radiator.