quote:A 160 degree thermostat is running your engine too cold and causing a lot of wear. Don't assume it will run hotter because of coolant flow distances, because it won't on a cold day and a 160 degree unit when it is full open won't flow any more water than a 180 degree one. The stock fan set up that blows through the radiator is not efficient. The ones that pull air throught work much better. From my memory of the Hall Phoenix radiator, it seems that it was thicker than the stock unit and did not flow air through it as well.
I am not arguing, I am interpreting what he said differently. My interpretation is that in a Pantera, a 160 thermostat is the equivelent of a 182 in another car.
The thermostat flows no more coolant but becasuse the coolant needs to travel further to the radiator it needs a head start to get there to keep the coolant at 182. Particularly under summer desert conditions.
I'm in southern NY. A high percentage of my Pantera driving eliminates cold temperature driving.
With a stock '73 water coolant system and a 160 thermostat, guess what? The car runs right around 185. Amazing?
Maybe it's my polished stainless cooling pipes?
Or my corrected Wieand pump?
Under these conditions, I probably don't need a 16 psi system but I still haven't convinced myself why it's a bad idea.
My best answer to myself is if it isn't broken don't fix it and leave well enough alone.