could this be a free mod????

[Die Ford V8]

i was at the drags and could never seem to get my engine very cool. Im on a very very low budget and was wondering if I could just pull the thermostat out just for races. then just put it back in for regular driving. pros and cons????
gains????

also, would this be able become another free mod, besides the gasket.

[Die Ford V8]

oh yeah, i would have had ice to put on the engine, but i forgot to buy some bags.

[firebird1]

go to zzp and find the write-up on drilling holes in your thermo... not exactly what you wanted; but has been done before...

taking the thermo out would acheice what?
coolant isnt going to circulate without the engine running, unless you get an electric water pump........

[Die Ford V8]

"coolant isnt going to circulate without the engine running"
___________________________________________
^^^huh^^^

wouldnt it make my car run way colder like 150 or so. just for drag purposes. wouldnt it be close to what a 160 thermo would do for you but better??

[firebird1]

its going to heat up anyway, even if you are sitting cold at the start, by the time you get back to the line you'll be hot as hell.


i thought you meant for cooling purposes.... simple mistake.

[99W68Firebird]

prolly just like if you took off your serpentine belt to run engine not losing lil bit of power running those accessories. but something i wouldnt suggest because get way too hot

[oil pan 4]

There was a guy at camaroz28.com that would change out his thermo spring and fall.
He would do a 160 in spring to run a litle cooler and run a 180 in the winter for some heat.
But he got tired of that and got his 180 and drilled 2, 1/8'' holes and his car stayed cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter compaired changing the thermos.
He had a 3.8L too.
YOu could rig a line (at least 1/2'') from the pressure side of the cooling system to the non pressure side before the radiator and put a valve in and open it up at the races.
I know on the 3.4's there is a hole in the pressure side of the cooliing system it is only for the tb warmer. If the 3.8 has any thing like that, well there is your pressurized coolant.
It could be done once for kinda cheap and will get you what you want any time you want it.
You won't have to keep changing any thing.

[Die Ford V8]

so no problems with no thermostat then right except it wont ever really warm up??

[wantmorepower]

Actually in some cases removing the thermostat all together can result in a car overheating. How can this be true????

If the coolant flows too quickly through the engine it may not have enough time for adequate heat transfer.

This might not be the best long term solution.

[wantmorepower]

Ooops I mispoke. What i meant was that the coolant may not spend enough time in the radiator.

[Die Ford V8]

so just drill some holes in it?
how big of holes, how many, and where at on the thermostat

[Magnus]

This is no awy near "advanced".. moving to general.

[67-03 RIP]

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Ooops I mispoke. What i meant was that the coolant may not spend enough time in the radiator.
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The real problem with no stat is putting too much pressure on the cap and not really that it doesn't spend enough time in the radiator to cool. The high pressure forces the water out the overflow, dropping your water level, which is what causes the overheating. A good compromise is to take a junk stat and leave out the center. But as others have mentioned, unless you have an electric water pump, you probably won't notice much improvement.

Ron

[Die Ford V8]

I just want my engine cooler, pulling out the middle of the stat will help cool it to like 160 right?

[nikon]

a cooler "engine" is not always good...cooler "denser" air and gas is good yes...but if your block is too cool it wont fire your cylinders with all the power it could...this is a big toss up question...some like running cooler...some hotter...I run cooler even though I know a hotter engine produces more power...instead of dicking around with your thermo go get a Kool-Can fill it up with dry ice and then see some differences...your thermostat isnt gonna do that much if anything at all for you...dont waste your time or money ;)