What thermostat?

[1BAD68]

I have a leaky thermostat gasket that I need to change but am wondering what thermostat I should be running...
Its a hyped 318 no A/C with a 25" aluminum radiator, always runs about 160-170 degrees unless idleing for extended time in traffic it will reach about 190 degrees.

[Nacho-RT74]

stock one is 190º as far I know. At least on my 74 Mopar parts catalogs states that... this topic has been touched in the past. Some ppl says, 160º is better for cooling engine... I still keep on my idea of 190º and my engine barely pass  half of gauge scale. Another option is 180º.

Down here in Venezuela, nobody runs the Tstat on old Mopars. In fact my car had removed it and I reinstall it.

[1BAD68]

I remember hearing that you dont want to run your engine too cool, so I'm wondering if I need to bump it up?

[Nacho-RT74]

OK, here is my experience...

when I had standart cluster, my temp gauge was ALLWAYS on second line of scale... that would it be about 1/5 or 1/6 of scale reading.

when I changed to Rallye cluster the scale reading changed completely, and then the normal reading was around half of scale. Some day I got in fact 3/4 of scale and higher.

then I started to post questions about that. On those days with BOTH cluster experiences I didn't have Tstat. I installed the 190º Tstat as manual says just to check test to see some difference and because I like everything working like stock. Didn't get BIG difference.

Cleaned Radiator and I have try to tune up better the engine ( still trying to get better tuned carb ) and actually my normal reading is 1/3 and half of scale. More toward to half of scale with A/C turned on. When I press gas pedal on highway and then arrive to somewhere, then slighly pass over half scale, maybe 2/3.

Maybe rallye temp gauge is more accurate ? maybe. I have noticed with rallye cluster the needle moves a lot more with any small change. Standart cluster temp gauge needle movement was almost UNNOTICEABLE

take your conclusions ( too much words lol )

[Plumcrazy]

Run a 180* thermostat from Stant, Milodon or Mr Gasket and you'll be fine.

[1BAD68]

Run a 180* thermostat from Stant, Milodon or Mr Gasket and you'll be fine.

I have a brand new 180* Mopar stat. is it a good one to use?

Thanks

[41husk]

I just put in a fail safe thermostat yesterday, not sure good or bad but the parts guty was pushing it pretty hard.  For the little difference in price, I thought I would give it a try.

[Animal]

Installed a 160* stat , nothing but trouble when on the motorway, as the engine temp goes to 180/190, the stat can't close , so the coolant flows round the system to fast , not giving it a chance to cool through the rad.

Went back to a 180 no problems.

[Plumcrazy]

Run a 180* thermostat from Stant, Milodon or Mr Gasket and you'll be fine.

I have a brand new 180* Mopar stat. is it a good one to use?

Thanks