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Too cool?

noquarternoquarterMember
I wouldn't have thought it possible, but is my Pantera now running too cool?

The story is that it used to run too hot, almost at the 230F on freeway and at the marker to the left of it (approx 210F?) for normal driving. To remedy that I've this winter done the following:
1. New water pump
2. New thermostat
3. A few new hoses
4. New alu radiator from P.I. Motorsports
5. Both fans now working, and controlled manually
6. New radiatorcap (15 lbs)
7. Tightened the clamps everywhere
Today I tested for the first time. Outside temperature was 8 degrees above freezing and I hadn't the fans running.
It took almost 15 minutes before the gauge read 90F and after a little freeway driving it settled just below the middle 160F mark. Feeling the radiator, it was warm but easy to touch on the left, a little cooler on the right. And the engine was also easy to touch. Later when almost idling through a town, the needle started climbing towards 200F, but when I switched on the fans it settled just above 160F.
Is this normal, or is it now running too cool? The thermostat worked before I put it in, I tested it on the stove in boiling water. And the thermostat is a MIL-16400 from summit, hi flow 160 degrees.

Should I just be happy with my Pantera's new-found "coolness"?
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throttledthrottledMember
I have a 72 with a Windsor in it. I have the same radiator from PI, a high flow water pump and thermostat. My car does the exact same thing you are describing. As I don't drive it when it is cold out, I am waiting for spring to see if the car comes up to temp faster. It stays around 160 as well. If I use the fans, it cools down even further.
D danieljonesMember
I've tested and use the Robert Shaw thermostats:

http://www.flowkooler.com/thermos.php

You'll see the Robertshaw series thermostat number 333 is the proper one
for a 351C, either 333-180 for 180 degrees F opening point or 333-192 for
192 degrees F. Here's a chart that shows wear versus coolant temperature:

http://carnut.com/ramblin/cool3.html

Either temperature should be fine. I prefer to run the 192 deg F thermostat
to make sure the oil gets hot enough to boil off the moisture but it you
have a marginal cooling system, the 180 deg F will give you a bit (not much)
more time in stop and go traffic.

Dan Jones
C charliemccallMember
Sounds like I may be too late since you've already ordered it, but I would go with the 192F, especially since you live in Denmark. I have a Robert Shaw 192 thermostat and I have no problems with overheating despite living in Spain! Perhaps in extreme conditions you might want a little more margin with a 180F, but you shouldn't experience that. I prefer the warmer temp for reasons Dan mentions, and I've read that the engine is "happier" and makes more power a little warmer.

With respect to your first post, the only odd thing is how long it took for your coolant to warm up. I am amazed at how quickly the coolant reaches operating temperature in my car. In probably 3-4 minutes I am at 192, where it stays. I'm guessing that your car takes so long to warm up because you've got the Windsor thermostat, which allows part of the coolant to circulate.
noquarternoquarterMember
Charlie, on the slow warm up I think you're right, it's the thermostat, we'll see next week.
The reason I took the 180F is that I've read that all carbureted V8s had it back then, it's only since emissions came along that 192F were used. That, plus the fact that the center engine layout poses extra challenges on any cooling system, made me think rather be a little low than high.

Funny by the way how the needle on the gauge has to at approx 3/4 to be showing the ideal temperature, more clever gauges have the ideal temperature in the middle vertical position
C charliemccallMember
Since your car isn't going anywhere anyway, it may be worth your time to find the sendor.

The stock location is on the swirl tank. This is not such a great idea. If you spring a leak or split a hose, you will be measuring air temperature, will will most likely be a whole lot cooler than your poor, suffering, overheating engine. You don't care what the temperature is in the swirl tank - you care what the temperature is in your block!

Leave the sender right where it is (if it isn't leaking you don't want to take it out) and buy a new one. Make sure you buy one for a Cleveland and make sure it is for a temp gauge and not an idiot light. There is a place designed for it in the block just above the water pump.
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