lncboytre_d

Is it ok to run without a thermostat?
I've been running without it. The car never rises above 180 and seems to be fine.

96lt1m6

iTrader: (31)

Not a good idea..... coolant just constantly circulates and will not get enough time in the radiator to cool off before it returns to the motor. You will eventually see especially when the warm weather comes......safe bet is to have a 160°-170° thermostat installed.
Why are you without a stat?

lncboytre_d

Car was stolen a while back and I just got it running, it was trying to overheat so I removed it, put it in a pot of hot water with no results. I had more work to do to the car so I left it out til I finished. I drove about 50 miles around dallas with it out through traffic. It never got above 180-185. Before I created a new problem I thought I'd ask.

whytryz28

iTrader: (28)

I ran around for 3 years in Florida weather without one in my 69 camaro, never overheated once.

idformula

Another problem that can happen is the coolant will circulate too fast, it won't pick up enough heat throughout the motor, so it will run hotter than what the coolant temp is.

David21

iTrader: (1)

Are you serious? Wow ignorance at it's finest.

If it's not in the radiator long enough to "cool" than how can it be in the motor long enough to get "hot"? The same logic applies.

Bottom line is you will be absolutely fine the purpose of a thermostat is to help the motor get hotter quicker and stay in operating temperature when cold.

Again this is also an ignorant statement to make.

bowtienut

iTrader: (1)

You beat me to it. Those comments above indicate a lack of understanding of........call it what you want: basic thermodynamics, or just common mechanical sense.
Only in cold weather will you have a problem keeping enough heat in the engine. For engine longevity, fuel mileage, emissions, and heater/defroster functions, it's best to run a thermostat. I like 160 deg stats in the LT1's; with the reverse flow, the engine ends up running in the 175-180 range.

David21

iTrader: (1)

Thank you.

Im sorry for the way I said it if I offended the two above, but it irritates me when people spew incorrect information like that.

I can't say how many times ive already seen on here the misconception of,

"the water goes too fast through a radiator your car will overheat" garbage

lncboytre_d

Thanks for the help. More importantly thanks for explaining your reasons why or why not.

David21

iTrader: (1)

No problem just surprised they didn't say anything about your hi flow water pump lol.

Nice mod list btw, seems all your lacking are some gears

shbox

There are big differences in the water pump and thermostat than in that car. You can't really compare the two.

What happens when you have no thermostat in an LT1 is that not all the heated coolant coming from the engine will make it to the radiator (it will go back into the engine). In the summer, this can lead to rising engine temps during higher ambient temps. In the winter, you may not notice, but you'll likely get more efficient warm up with it present (and that is a good thing for engine life).

The thermostat is not the same as an SBC thermostat and has a dual stage function and the water pump has complex passages to make use of it.

Bottom line-run a thermostat.

chaman

iTrader: (5)

Ive ha d a lot of cars without a t-stat and never a single problem. In colder weather it could in fact be a problem.

lncboytre_d

Gears will be my next mod....lol. I ran out of budget money. For that matter I went over budget a LONG time ago.

bowtienut

iTrader: (1)

true dat
If you really must run an LT1 without a tstat (I do for racing, so I can do a quick cooldown between runs), you need to plug that bypass passage to force it all through the radiator.

lncboytre_d

I'd like 3.73's but was leaning more towards 3.42's haven't deceided. Can't really justify one over the other. I don't race much, just like to go fast and sound good doing it.

lncboytre_d

It's slower than yours I know...... But its fast enough to out run the guy behind me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=oNxGJsGoFTk

David21

iTrader: (1)

Go 3:73. You'll regret it later if not

David21

iTrader: (1)

Sounds really good

lncboytre_d

It took just under 5 minutes to warm up at idle to 170. I let it idle for about ten minutes then adjusted the rocker arms which took another 15 to 20 minutes, the car never got over 180*. I was worried about it staying in open loop from being below normal op temp but it went into closed loop around 150-160. According to Ion at madtuner.com running a lower t-stat and fan temp allows for a more aggressive spark table. With that in mind the car should be fine without one I think. And the heater, does it work...... fells like its funneling heat directly from hell

formulafast

iTrader: (1)

think of it this way, no therostate less restriction more HP!!!!!! We should all do this lol