Thermostat Question

[72Plymouth]

I am going through the cooling system right now. My Plymouth service manual says that the standard thermostat is 185 F but Napa and Autozone says that OEM calls for 195 F. They don't sell 185 so I got a 180 thermostat.

Any thoughts?

 

[godfatherofchry]

that will work fine. Artie

 

[LH23H2R]

195 for California ;
185 for 49 state models .

these numbers are for the 1972 model year .

I run a 195 in my daily driver 1972 Coronet , stock 318 / 904 , 26" factory rad .

The trick is to not go too low temp-wise , otherwise your car can actually run hotter !

 

[72Plymouth]

Yup didn't think it was too good so I got the 180 thermostat. Thanks guys

 

[4flats]

I think I actually ran mine for 5 or 6 years with no thermostat. It doesn't stay cold here for very long and the thought was then that no restriction = cooler engine temps. Never had any issues other than having no heat for the first 20 miles or so. Looking back now, I got so lucky so many times with that car. Any one of the stupid things I did could have ended in disaster. Better to be lucky than good.

 

[grumpuscreature]

180 will work fine. Anything below 195 will sure screw up a fuel infection system though.