tach drive 61

No one says they cant get their corvette to run hot enough , since my latest freshening up of my 327 CE standard bore motor any temps above 140 don't exist ,
over the weekend I installed a 160 high flow thermostat . and still low reading well time for a 180 and ill see what happens , the car does not warm up enough for good tuning conditions . the water pump I installed was a napa brand pump the radiator is stock alum dated 1965 .

capevettes

Have you confirmed the temps with an IR gun? Sounds like it's too low to be accurate. May be a gauge/send unit problem. I would run a 180. A 160 thermostat will cause it to run cool in the Northeast during temps under 50 degrees. In the summer it will still take the temps to where the car wants to run.

MOXIE62

I have the same problem in the winter. I just put a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator. You will need to experiment to see how much of the radiator needs to be blocked.

SDVette

That should not be necessary when using a thermostat though... right?

MOXIE62

I'm using 160 degree.

AZDoug

Correct.

The blocking the radiator method was done in the 1930s and before when cars didn't have thermostats. if you have a working thermostat and didn't dick with it by drilling a bunch of holes in it, you don't need to block the radiator

The owners manual for my 1933 Chevy Roadster states to block the radiator and close the hood vents in cold weather and open the hood vents in hot weather. (Thermostats were an add on accessory and were not supplied with the car). And in weather below 20*F, to add 1 quart of kerosene to the oil sump to help thin the oil.

Edit: The hood vents do work as designed, as the engine compartment is mostly blocked off underneath to prevent air from escaping unless the hood vents are open.

Doug

Randy G.

My money is on an inaccurate gauge reading.

Pierre

Check the intake manifold where the thermostat is located. Sometime there is lot of corrosion in that area and coolant just flows around the thermostat.

128racecar

Ditto. I wouldn't trust any C1 temp gauge, whether it reads low, high, or normal without checking it with an IR temp reader. Cheap on Amazon- you can get a good one for under $20. Now one of my favorite tools.

Marc in Indy

asolde

If you buy a temp sensor, get it from Mary jo (Vette Gal) she is in San Diego ca. She has a eBay store. She is the only one that I have found that has the correct temp sensor.

Bill Pilon

I have a 60 and it runs 160 degrees all the time with a 160 thermostat, North or South, hot or cold have verified with ir gun several times.

Bill

Frankie the Fink

My 61 hung right in at 175* to 180* all day, every day. Its an odd one that runs TOO cool...usually the opposite. I'd confirm the sending unit for sure.

dcamick