The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 261 bypass thermostat housing question

Here is my stab in the dark.
The 261 was designed for big trucks and were pushed to their limits often.
The 261 has Siamese cylinders due to larger bore diameter similar to a 400 cubic inch small block. They both share the extra holes in the head to aid in keeping them cooler.
One of the challenges of keeping a 400 SB running has been trying to keep it from over-heating. This engine was probably the originator of running an engine with out a thermostat.
My guess would then be, the "bypass" thermostat housing design was developed for the same reason that gearheads pulled the thermostats on race day, to keep them from overheating. The "bypass design" would clearly be a less severe solution compared to the "no thermostat" option.
Carl