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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Dec 2016 Posts: 78 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2016 Posts: 78 | What temp thermostat is everyone having the best luck with? Here is a bit of background to my asking this, I have returned all my gauges to original including the temp gauge. Installed temp sender from reliable source stating it is the original replacement In their catalog. My temp gauge was just about pegged, confirmed the hot temp with a laser heat gun. This vehicle sat with water in it for years, I have had the head boiled out and redone as the head gasket passages had been plugged with rust. Freeze plugs removed and block cleaned out, water pump rebuilt, fresh re core of the original radiator and heater core, all new hoses. I was told by the radiator shop to run a 180 tstat, temp gauge is much better but still shows a bit on the hot side, wondering what temp was the original? FYI, I'm mixed 50/50 with distilled and using quality AC Delco tstat. Thoughts?
1959 3204 Basic Cab
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 336 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 336 | I'm pretty sure the 180 was what was called for. Try a 160 and see what happens.
1959 3100 Apache Fleetside
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2016 Posts: 78 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2016 Posts: 78 | That's exactly what I was thinking but was just curious what others might have thought or done. Makes me wonder if the sending unit is a bit off and not the exact replacement. Thanks
1959 3204 Basic Cab
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | Too cool of a 'stat.(160) will cause the engine to not warm up for best efficiency to get water out of the system as well, especially if not run hard, nor frequently.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 |
The original 1954 160 degree thermostat started to open at 148-156 degrees and was fully open at 176 degrees.
The original 1959 235 engine 180 degree thermostat started to open at 157-163 degrees and was fully open at 183 degrees.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 592 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 592 | My situation might be unique because of where I live and drive in the Arizona desert. I drive my truck regularly in parts of the desert where temps can reach 125 degrees. I use a 160 degree thermostat and my preference is the Duralast 15356 available through Autozone because it has a jiggle pin. The jiggle pin allows for air to bleed out of the system but functions as a check valve that will not allow coolant to pass when the thermostat is closed. Bought four of them last week for $23 with a text coupon available in the store that gave me $7.50 off a $30.00 purchase, basically buy three, get one free.
Old school terms for 160 degree thermostats are 'desert thermostats' or 'summer thermostats'. I run mine year round because we don't experience very cold weather where I live. In climates with hot summers and cold winters, prevailing logic was to run a 160 thermostat in the summer and a 180 in the winter.
Matt | | |
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