how hot? What thermostat are you running on the street?

Just wondering what the consensus was on thermostat temp for a street driven machine.

Assuming you can, running cooler than 180° or so isn't doing your engine any favors. Heat actually helps to cook off condensation in your oil, helping to keep the engine clean. There's a good reason that N.O.T. in newer cars is closer to 200°....a number that used to make us uncomfortable. A cooling system that's up to the task allows you to run hotter SAFELY...but we don't always have one of those.

we dont run a stat in any of our street cars, some have ehx system's that are 15 years old now, NOT rusted thru.

A stats job is to keep and engine hot,not cool it

The reason I ask is I finally have my capri to a point where I'm going to get it plated. I put it together with a 195 t-stat. My electric fan has an adjustable thermostat but my rad is only a 1" single core. and I have 1-2mm between the fan and the water pump pulley. Currently no hood, tuned the carb today had it running for an hour or so roaster the tires a few times and temp was holding steady. Trans has an external cooler and returns through radiator. fan wasn't even hooked up for most of the time I had it running today. sunny day 74degreesF.

High temperature thermostats are for reducing emissions, minimizing engine wear, good fuel economy... and are tolerable with fast burn modern combustion chambers and powerful ecms.

In a high compression, high performance street engine running on crap gas a high temp (195) thermostat invites problems (lowers detonation threshold for a given fuel, loss of power due to charge heating are 2 examples)

In our performance engines I recommend a max of 180 and a good cooling system if static c/r vs cam specs isn't pushing the envelope. A lower temp thermostat makes more power both on the dyno and in the vehicle though any less than about 170 invites a tic more cylinder wall wear. I'll personally take the extra 10 to 20 hp myself.

To the OP. If your combo is edgy run a lower temp stat. If not run a 180 and block the heat through the intake if the passage is present.



S

I hadn't even thought about the heat crossover. combo isn't crazy cr is around 9:1 stock cam 106 degree ICL. d0ve heads offenhauser dual port intake. next time I have a good reason to pull the intake off I'll make sure I do that, thanks