Installing Bob Shewmans thermostats

Seth Swoboda

Seth Swoboda

Well-known member
I got Bob Shewmans thermostats to see how they work in my '47 tudor with 59A engine compared to the bellows type thermostats in the engine now. My question is do Shewmans thermostats install in the upper radiator hose near the top radiator necks or down low above the water outlet on the heads?
 

Attachments

  • 20160823_193207 (2).jpg
    20160823_193207 (2).jpg
    25.7 KB · Views: 157
Last edited:
I tried mounting regular thermostats top near the neck. Found that it takes some time for the engine heat to reach the stat and engine temp will start to get you worried. I moved them down to head. Less worrying.
 
They sit up against the tubes from the radiator tank. The purpose is to hold them
in place. Mounted lower in the hose they will be pushed up as the hoses expand
and from water flow. These stats have pre flow holes and some water flows on
start up. As the water gets to 180 if that's what the stats are they them move
to keep the temperature at 180 or what ever the stats are. Shewman's stats have
a larger flow opening than other stats plus the pre flow holes and provide more
coolant flow than other modern stats with small flow openings that reduce the
flow. The high volumn flow is important in hot weather, in cooler weather you
don't have over heating problems. You have to remember stats have nothing to
do with cooling they only raise the temperature in the engine. G.M.
 
Hi, I have installed these thermosats In my in my 1946 and in my 1948, They both run great with them. I highly recommend them and have driven on plus 90 degee days.
 
Fellas, I respect everyone's opinion and point of view and am aware about all the previous debate. I'm simply trying something different here for the fun of it. I'm not endorsing one method over the other. It's not that big a deal to me.
 
With any thermostat you install always drill a 1/8 inch hole in the middle of the outer ring. It allows a little water through and prevents air lock.
 
Seth Swoboda said:
Fellas, I respect everyone's opinion and point of view and am aware about all the previous debate. I'm simply trying something different here for the fun of it. I'm not endorsing one method over the other. It's not that big a deal to me.
Click to expand...

Me either.
 
I am also planning to order a set of Shewmans thermostats for my 35 fordor. I would rather do my own evaluation in a vehicle that I am more familar with, and compare these results to the temperatures I'm getting now using stock type thermostats like Ford originally used.
 
Last Fall I replaced the aluminum heads on my '34 due to excessive electrolysis. While the heads were off I decided to clean out the scale, rust and debris from inside the water jacket. I spent three days doing this using a stiff wire scraper, very high pressure air and a vacuum. I was amazed at how much stuff came out of that block. When I finished cleaning the block I replace the heads with new Kearney Pattern Works reproduction heads. I also had the radiator re-cored and installed water pumps rebuilt by 'Skip'. I was really pleased with the results of all of this but could never get the operating temperature over 130 degrees after several months of driving. I never ran stats in this car. Too cold I thought, so I ordered a pair of 160 degree stats from Bob Shewman. I installed them as directed in the upper part of the radiator hoses close the radiator inlet. The affects these stats had on my flathead were remarkable - it warms up much faster and it seems to run noticeably smoother. The temp seldom goes above 160 even on hot days. My cooling system is not pressurized. I'm impressed....

P.S. - I think what impresses me the most about these Shewmans'd stats of mine is how steady the operating temperature holds at 160 degrees....
 
Last edited:
Did these flatheads come from the assembly line with T-stats? Mine didn't have any when I got my car. My car was overheating last year and had a problem with quitting after a few miles because of an original coil. Sent that to Skip and used that time to rebuild my distributor. Car ran great but didn't drive very much since winter was knocking. This spring I had a water leak out of one of my pumps and sent to Skip for a rebuild. I also purchased a pair of NOS T-stats from ebay...think it was $30 for the pair. Don't know how to describe them...they sit on the water neck of the head and there's a strap coil spring and a "flapper" valve. Anyway, I did the Dream cruise last weekend and it was 90+ in stop and go traffic. The hottest the engine got was just short of the upper "hot" line on the original mercury gauge. I was happy with the cars performance under those conditions. I'm also happy with the coil and pumps Skip has rebuilt for me.
 
Capt Kirk said:
Did these flatheads come from the assembly line with T-stats? Mine didn't have any when I got my car. My car was overheating last year and had a problem with quitting after a few miles because of an original coil. Sent that to Skip and used that time to rebuild my distributor. Car ran great but didn't drive very much since winter was knocking. This spring I had a water leak out of one of my pumps and sent to Skip for a rebuild. I also purchased a pair of NOS T-stats from ebay...think it was $30 for the pair. Don't know how to describe them...they sit on the water neck of the head and there's a strap coil spring and a "flapper" valve. Anyway, I did the Dream cruise last weekend and it was 90+ in stop and go traffic. The hottest the engine got was just short of the upper "hot" line on the original mercury gauge. I was happy with the cars performance under those conditions. I'm also happy with the coil and pumps Skip has rebuilt for me.
Click to expand...

How much did Skip charge you to rebuild his pump that developed a leak
after about a year of service?? G.M.
 
GM...they were the old original pumps that I had skip rebuild this year...not pumps that he had previously rebuilt for me.
 
Capt Kirk said:
GM...they were the old original pumps that I had skip rebuild this year...not pumps that he had previously rebuilt for me.
Click to expand...

I thought that was the case when I first read your post, but regarding GM's reply, I am sure he wanted to let you know that Skip stands behind his work 100%. That's one of several good reasons to have Skip do your water pumps rather that buying a new set made off-shore. It's not likely you would get this kind of service on pumps made in China.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top