The right thermostat?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 39
From: North Dakota
Hmm, well here in vegas it is so hot that even the clutch fan works 24/7. I have never heard of a flex not cooling as well as a clutch? In fact it is just the opposite, you might loose some power but your engine will be cooler. Just look at the size difference. Had a 72 nova with a 454 in it, it kept overheating until we put in a flex fan. My 82 f-100 had the clutch fan and it seemed like the clutch would go out once a year. As for breaking , I will keep an eye on it but it has been in almost 75,000 miles and no explodes yet.
Last edited by kameronth; Aug 11, 2004 at 03:41 AM.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
The reason the OEMs use the clutch fan is because it moves more air at low rpm's and only when needed. When the vehicle is moving the airflow thru the radiator disengages the clutch fan. If the clutch units are failing once a year you need to switch manufacturers. They should last about 10 years or 100K+ miles in normal use. A clutch fan may be running often in Vegas in the summertime but it won't be as much in the winter. The clutch fan is a proven design that works much better all around than flex fans.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 39
From: North Dakota
Thanks, I will keep that in mind, but as for now my flex works fine so there is no point of chaniging out. I was thinking the same thing with the clutches, probably the heat but who knows, I did buy them from Auto Zone?
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,483
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From: Northern California
I run a brass and copper 3 row dimpled core radiator, Edelbrock Waterpump, 180 thermostat, dual electric fans from Performance on a new stroker engine and it will run at 180, at a stop light or long slow pull up a hill it will go up to about 200, so I'm pretty pleased with this set up.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Loveland, CO.
True, overheating is not caused by a properly working t-stat. 195 degrees is not overheating on any motor. I think that the flex fan is not cooling the motor properly at idle in 113 degree weather. Either that or you are not overheating, you are simply seeing an increase in engine temperature at idle from the 160 to the 195. Where is the guage? It probably read lower with the 160, but it was not really at operating temperature and if you were to let it idle it would have crept up there. Operating temp with a properly functioning 195 degree t-stat is near halfway on the gauge. With a 160 it will run near the cold mark but that is not proper operating temp.
