The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Two questions

1956 235. Question 1- What temp thermostat is correct. 160 or 180
Question 2- the carburetor gasket. Should it go between carb and heat insulator or between heat insulator and manifold.

160 degree thermostat (starts opening at 157 and fully open at 180).
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/56160.htm

You should use a gasket between the carburetor and the insulator, especially if there is no "cutout" in the top surface of the insulator for a vacuum port.
If there is a "cutout" in the top surface of the insulator, you may be able to use no gasket.
You can get away with no gasket between the insulator and the intake manifold, unless you get a leak there.

I use a gasket in both locations.
I have never had a leak.

If you run a 160 in the winter, invest in a good set of long underwear- - - - -you'll freeze the family jewels off! 160 degree thermostats were usually used with alcohol-based antifreeze to prevent the alky from boiling off too quickly. "Permanent" antifreeze (ethylene glycol) could handle higher temps.
Jerry

Oh Jerry, you're being a sissy. Where's your sense of adventure? Joking aside I have a 160 in my '38 and it gets toasty warm in the car. IMHO the deciding factor is how tight is your cab. If you're not letting a lot of cold air in you should be OK. I normally have to shut the doors on my heater and just use the bottom vents or it gets too hot. Personal preference I guess.

To avoid condensation issues and get the oil temp up year round........run a 180* t-stat

X2

Check the specs on a modern 180 degree thermostat - report here the final/fully-open operating temperature.

I just switched to this type thermostat. Works pretty good. Interesting enough, I can actually watch the temp gauge drop the moment it opens. Could not do that before with the Stant thermostat that was in the car prior.

http://www.tuffstuffperformance.com/i-24486916-high-flow-thermostat-180-degrees-900180.html?ref=category:1267448

A thermostat sets the minimum operating temperature of an engine. The efficiency of the radiator is supposed to maintain that temp once the thermostat opens. If an engine has a tendency to overheat once the stat opens, it's the fault of the radiator, or deposits/debris in the water jacket that interferes with good heat transfer from the cylinder walls and/or cylinder head to the coolant. Having enough heat transfer from the coolant to the outside air to maintain the proper engine temperature is the purpose of a cooling system- - - -the thermostat is only one link in the chain.

Trivia- - - -if all the heat energy released by the burning fuel could be captured and applied to powering the car, gas mileage would triple. Approximately one third of the heat energy goes out the exhaust, and the cooling system transfers another third to the atmosphere. The one third that's left over is actually what's used to move the pistons.
Jerry

Per Stant
Thermostats have a “rated” temperature such as 180F or 195F; This is the temperature the thermostat will start to open, give or take 3
degrees; The thermostat fully open about 15-20 degrees above its rated temperature

No concerns with those numbers ^ as long the radiator is clean and functioning.
Along with an added PCV the crankcase should be more than happy when those contaminates are “boiled off.”

How does a modern cooling system maintain an engine temperature at 190-230 degrees? I realize they use 14# radiator caps which prevents the water from boiling, but what is the mechanism which raises the engine temperature?

The minimum temp is set by a 195 thermostat. Anytime the radiator tries to cool the liquid down below that, the thermostat closes partially and restricts the flow. The radiator cap is like a pressure valve on a pressure cooker, keeping the liquid from boiling by raising the boiling point 3 degrees for every pound of pressure. a 15# cap would raise toe boiling point to 212 + 45 = 257 degrees.

Most modern electric fans turn on at 220 and off again at 200, so if a cap is unable to pressurize (leaky gasket, bad spring, not turned down tight, etc.), the coolant can boil away before the fan ever starts running.
Jerry

Thanks Jerry. I forgot about the temperature controlled electric fan.