SBC heating issues solved!!!!

As I've posted before, I've been chasing a strange overheating issue with the 327 in my '56 Chevy.

Problem solved, I think, thanks to advice from a couple of veteran drag racers here in Gainesville.

They suggested gutting a thermostat so it acts like a NASCAR restrictor plate. I did just that, put it in today and the heat issues are gone. Slow, medium, fast, idle -- whatever -- the engine purrs along at 170.

The next test will come next summer when it's 90 and humid, but so far I'm a believer in this method.

 

Gutting the thermostat? Explain

 

take the spring and heat sink out, you have a big hole in it,

 

that patched the problem, what is the bottom line issue?

 

Shouldn't have to "gut it" if everythings working properly. Maybe drill a 1/8" hole in it, but that's about it.

 

I had drilled 1/8" holes in 160 and 180 degree thermostats and still had overheating issues.

Gutting the thermostat so it was just a disk with a hole in it seems to work. I guess the question really is this: Did the gutted thermostat 'fix' the problem or just mask it?

Regardless, all the other possible culprits turned up not guilty. So far, at least.

 

I've got the opposite problem; my 350 SBC in my truck never heats up! Now that it's winter I need to look into this cause I need more warmth from the heater!!!

 

Put a thermostat in it.

 

Hotter thermostat... try a 190 or 200

 

High flow water with no by p*** and heater made my thermostat stay shut. Even tried other stats for hi flow and same problem. So I run just a restrictor until this super pump dies.