Thread: Thermostat or no ?

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I have a small block chev that is built for 1/4 mile and not street driven. Have removed the heater core ,heater ,wipers ,wiper motor etc. Have an electric fan to cool the radiator. Do i need to run a thermostat or not?




Jim

Do you need to? No... Some do and some don't. I run one and I believe it is wise to do so if only to help get the engine up to operating temperature more quickly and consistently before a run. If I were you, I'd run a 180* thermostat... anything that makes the car operate more consistently is a good tihng

BTW: Welcome to the forum... how about posting something about yourself in the Newbie forum?

Two cents,

-Chris

this should stir up some good comments ... i run a thermostat in my more user friendly V6 pinto but not in my mustang or V8 pinto .. in those i have a thin aluminum plate with 3 each 3/8th holes drilled to slow the flow a bit .. drag cars flush with cool water between rounds sometimes .. sometimes not ..

Originally Posted by bluto480

I have a small block chev that is built for 1/4 mile and not street driven. Have removed the heater core ,heater ,wipers ,wiper motor etc. Have an electric fan to cool the radiator. Do i need to run a thermostat or not?




Jim

Welcome,Yes you either need to run a thermostat or some kind of restrictor in there to slow down the water flow so it can absorb the heat from the block and heads and transfer the heat back to the radiator so it can be cooled down.

Erik thanks for your input. I have had a lot of cars i have raced in the 1/4 mile but they were street driven as well so needed all the comfort assesories.
This is my first strictly drag car. Its an 80 el camino with a .060 350 stroked and balanced,single 4 barrell, big lunati roller cam. Really cackles just got it fired the first time the other day.now getting it all dialed in.


Thanks again
Jim

I dont run a therostat in my 500 caddy as it wants to heat at idle(they have a really lazy water pump) its not a cold weather car and it seems to help at low speed cruise or in the line at the strip idling.
In my area you have to run a thermostat on the street no matter what in the winter , We also have those funny plug ins that hang out of the hood block heaters battery heaters oilpan warmers car warmers etc

Run one. Colder isn't always better. Not good to run it cold, best to try and keep it at a constant temperature.