08-06-2018, 07:36 PM | #21 |
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Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Middletown, NY
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Re: Thermostat?
I have a 1930 Model A with a remachined "B" Police Head. I use a 160 degree thermostat and the car runs GREAT!! On a recent trip to Vermont and back mid-80's summer weather (360 miles round trip) the car ran consistently at 160. On long hill pulls the temp would go to 165-170; on the downhill side it would drop to 150-155 ; gas mileage in excess of 20 MPG. If the radiator is sound, a thermostat is the way to go. Just because Henry did not use it does not mean that it's use would not be an improvement in efficiency!
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08-06-2018, 07:38 PM | #22 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL
Posts: 1,106
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Re: Thermostat?
Several years ago "The Restorer" had an article on temperatures in the Model A engine. It was pointed out that when there are problems with valves and piston rings, they generally occur in the back two cylinders. This is because the back section of the block is a stagnant flow area, the water circulation is less and the temperatures are higher. My Model A with a clean radiator runs about 155 F at the top of the radiator. I believe that to keep the back of the engine within reasonable limits, you need have the water cooler towards the front of the engine. To prove this, the Restorer article bored a hole in the water jacket at the rear of the engine and connected a 1/2 in. copper pipe to a location at the front of the engine increasing the circulation. As predicted the temperatures at the rear were reduced.
Therefore, I wouldn't use a thermostat. Ed |
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08-06-2018, 07:54 PM | #23 |
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Location: Anchorage, Alaska
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Re: Thermostat?
My engine builder said to run 180 degree thermostat, so that's what I did for 7,000 miles. For the first 5,000 or so, it would show 180-190 most of the time. Then recently when at highway speeds, it would occasionally get up to 200+. So, before this last 1,000 mile trip we took last weekend, I put a new 160 thermostat in it and it never got above 170. Ambient temperatures were hovering around 80 most of the time. For now I am going to stick with the 160. If that seems too low this winter, I'll bump it up to 180 again.
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08-07-2018, 08:25 AM | #24 | |
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Re: Thermostat?
Quote:
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08-07-2018, 11:18 AM | #25 |
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Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Posts: 612
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Re: Thermostat?
Good Morning all...I don't run a thermostat in our 1931 Tudor. It runs about 170 in the Arizona summer early in the morning at outside temperatures of 95 or so. In the winter, I just use a cloth hand towel looped over the light bar with two safety pins; it blocks off about 1/4 of the radiator, it is just as good as a thermostat and does not conflict with the original water flow as designed by Henry. It is definitely OLD school, but it works...however Dolores thinks it looks 'Dumb'! Ernie in Arizona
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08-07-2018, 11:24 AM | #26 |
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Location: Alabama
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Re: Thermostat?
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08-11-2018, 02:54 PM | #27 |
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Location: Venice, FL
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Re: Thermostat?
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09-09-2018, 02:14 PM | #28 |
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Re: Thermostat?
Hi Al,
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...=248976&page=2 Been reading older posts and came across this. I been through this too. If you are concerned about keeping the motor at the most efficient temp, and having quick warms ups you can install a temp gauge in your motor coolant outlet, and block the inside of the radiator with cardboard or similar. This is the type of method used back in the day, and a method in one of the posts The danger to using a thermostat is the Model A does not have a bypass to keep some coolant flow when the stat is closed. In certain cases this can cause cylinders 3-4 to overheat and can cause motor damage. This is mentioned in a previous post. Some drill holes through the thermostat to provide bypass, I've heard this is not really sufficient. The post also mentions a way to provide proper bypass, I've heard there is an easier way, but have not investigated since I am having cooling issues. |
09-10-2018, 09:39 AM | #29 |
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Re: Thermostat?
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09-10-2018, 10:44 AM | #30 |
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Re: Thermostat?
Another thread. A Barn member has put sensors on his A for measurements. I asked and he replied he is using a 180 degree thermostat. Can not remember if he is using a bypass method. The attachments of his data are very interesting. https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=250406
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09-10-2018, 10:55 AM | #31 |
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Re: Thermostat?
Here is another thread with his data, different chart showing rpm which illustrates his shift points. Again he is using a 180 degree thermostat.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=250806 |
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