Running my TBird without a thermostat

A lot of times, w/o a thermostat, the water moves through the rad do fast that it doesn't get a chance to cool down, and you will overheat. How come you're running without it??
 
When I first restored it, I didn't have a thermostat in it. I also had no leaks. Then I put a 180 thermostat in and I developed several leaks. Not huge leaks but periodic drips. One from the water pump and one from the rear of the engine. I rebuilt the engine and replaced all of the parts. Everything is new including the freeze plugs.
 
The leaks you describe are almost certainly from either the thermostat housing or the short bypass hose.A leak at either of those will allow coolant to run down onto the water pump and appear to be a leaking pump and/or on the channels in the valley cover and allow the coolant to run to rear of the engine and drip off from there.Recheck your thermostat and bypass hose installations.
 
A perfect way to sludge up a new fresh engine is to run it too cool. Warm it up to 160 or 180, it will thank you.
 
For best results, use a wide mouth thermostat. NAPA #6 is a wide mouth, 170 degree unit.. Also, Mr Gasket has a similar thermostat, its for a big block MOPAR (383, 413, 426, 440)
 
thermostats wont cause water leaks, to high of a pressor cap will tho, running with out a thermostat, or one that is to cool. will lower gas milage because the engine doesnt get hot enough to fully burn all the gas, it will also cause spark plugs to foul i recomend a 180 degree one, if the one you buy doesnt have a bleed hole in it out next to the rim drill a 1/8" hole there, it acts like an air bleed to let water flow by the heat sensor on the thermo so it will open quicker
 
I just checked and I'm getting a leak around the water pump gasket. Not on top where the thermostat housing is but from the water pump to engine gasket. It's really strange because for several years there was no leaks. I just completed the restoration in the fall but I've been running the car for a couple of years while I finished the restoration. I have a very low pressure cap but I even took it off yesterday to relieve any pressure. The leaks started after I put the thermostat in.
 
I doubt the installation of the thermostat caused the leak in the water pump gasket unless you removed or loosened some bolts holding the water pump on in the midst of changing the thermostat.

These cars were designed to run with thermostats.
 
The water pump gasket may not be at fault. the bottom left bolt which holds the pump and the left end of the timing pointer to the timing cover may be where the leak is really coming from.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top