Thermostat/Temp gauge installation

bdave_mcc

bdave_mcc

Senior Member
I'm contemplating running an in-hose thermostat and tapping the water outlet for a temp gauge. I see setups where people are running the thermostat at the top of the hose and some at bottom next to the outlet and getting the water temp from the tube that splices into the upper hose. What I need to know is if its ok to get the temp from the outlet or if the temp probe needs to be after the thermostat up in the hose. thanks in advance guys.

Edit! also in the parts catalogs it says a 180 degree thermostat can cause overheating...any experience with this? opinions, 160 or 180?
 
I just put a thermostat in the upper hose. I also have the temp gauge Tee in the upper hose. I put the thermostat on the engine side of the Tee. 160 degree thermostat from Berts solved a couple of my issues I was having.
Good luck and happy motoring:)
 
Tiny said:
I just put a thermostat in the upper hose. I also have the temp gauge Tee in the upper hose. I put the thermostat on the engine side of the Tee. 160 degree thermostat from Berts solved a couple of my issues I was having.
Good luck and happy motoring:)
Click to expand...

Tiny, is your thermostat at the top of the hose after the temp gauge or next to the head before? I've seen both ways. I just wonder if it makes a difference which side of the thermostat the temperature reading comes from, or if it even matters.
 
I put this thermostat housing on mine. I used the ports for a temp gauge and water heater. I am using the 160 degree thermostat that came with the housing. Everything works like a charm.
 

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I really like that one and will probably eventually get it, but right now I'm opting for the 10 dollar version to see if it helps. Well that's 10,... if I can successfully mount the temp probe in my stock housing without messing something up.:eek: I am confident I can make it work though. Im guessing the thermostat mounts between the top and bottom sections of that housing?
 
Before the thermostat. That way you know the true temp of the coolant leaving the motor. Those other housings are just an expensive part that gains nothing in my opinion, but we all know what opinions are like!! :D
 
I installed my thermostat the same way as Tiny.

I used the part below available from Snyder's.

Temp Gauge Probe Pipe

Pipe has a 1/2" NPT nipple welded into it for the temperature gauge probe to thread into. Mounts in your upper radiator hose. Powder coated black with original style clamps.
Part NumberSpecificsPrice A-8273USA
1928-31

I, like Tiny, placed the temp gauge sensor (part shown above) between thermostat and the head. (Split the upper hose and use the part shown as the splice and then place the thermostat in the upper section of the split hose...between the radiator and the Temp Gauge Probe Pipe.)

ps: Changed my post to correct error... Thanks Marc!


Good Day!
 
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Tiny said:
... Those other housings are just an expensive part that gains nothing in my opinion...
Click to expand...
What it gains is a cleaner installation, a port for both the water heater and temp gauge, a simple/quick way to remove and/or change thermostat along the roadside (which I have done), replacement thermostate available everywhere. Expensive? Not in my book.
 
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Carl
Not sure about a cleaner install. In your case with a hot water heater it makes sense. I think the cleanest way to go is a tapped water neck, which I will do when I pull the head someday.
 
bdave_mcc said:
I'm contemplating running an in-hose thermostat and tapping the water outlet for a temp gauge. I see setups where people are running the thermostat at the top of the hose and some at bottom next to the outlet and getting the water temp from the tube that splices into the upper hose. What I need to know is if its ok to get the temp from the outlet or if the temp probe needs to be after the thermostat up in the hose. thanks in advance guys.

Edit! also in the parts catalogs it says a 180 degree thermostat can cause overheating...any experience with this? opinions, 160 or 180?
Click to expand...

There are two trains of thought on this,

1) The hell with a thermostat
2) 160 degrees
 
CarlG said:
I put this thermostat housing on mine. I used the ports for a temp gauge and water heater. I am using the 160 degree thermostat that came with the housing. Everything works like a charm.
Click to expand...

Carl, I like your t stat house. I sent a note to precision. You mention a heater connected to it also. Care to share any info on your heater?
 
On old MGs, which have a similar non-pressurized pump and thermo-syphon type cooling system, the thermostat is in a housing on top of the head and the temperature guage probe is in the radiator. In cold weather the guage will show no movement until the thermostat opens. Normally, the guage will continue to climb, but in very cold weather the thermostat will open and close again very quickly. When that happens, it is time to shield the radiator core to get some heat!
The MG system also has a bypass around the thermostat.
With a configuration like the MGs, it is very easy to monitor what is happening with the cooling sytem.
 
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I installed a 160* thermostat that fits inside the upper water hose, at the outlet of the gooseneck. Also the gooseneck is taped for my temperature gauge probe.
I now have a consistent operating temperature and warm-ups in all weather conditions thanks to this set-up.
Thank you Ford Barn............................Pete
 

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That housing must be super expensive if they wont tell you the price on the website without having to contact them to send it too you. Looks nice though
 
I recently installed one of the 160 degree thermostats that goes in the upper hose. As suggested in the installation literature, it very quickly migrated up against the water inlet of the radiator... no problem. I also drilled a second 1/8 inch hole in the thermostat to provide some minor flow before the thermostat opens. At the same time, I installed the water outlet on the head that is pre drilled and tapped (from Brattons) for a temperature gauge. We have been having colder weather here so I have had a chance to see how it works in 30-40 degree temps.

The gauge starts to rise VERY soon after starting the engine and the upper hose starts getting warm as soon as the gauge shows any movement, indicating (to me) some minor flow of coolant before the thermostat opens. The "NORMAL" range on the gauge is from 140 to 180. It reaches 140 very quickly and settles in the middle of the range in just a few minutes. At highway speed (~40-45), it hovers at the middle to high end of the "NORMAL" range.

All in all, I'm very satisfied with how it works and how rapidly it allows the engine to warm up and how stable the temperature seems to be.

Steve
 
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