Replace thermostat?

[d9103365]

I have a 75 Sport fury 318 that's been sitting up for a few years and I'm bringing it back into action. I'm replacing the usual wires/hoses, etc. and am wondering if I should replace the thermostat? It does seem to warm up real fast when I crank it cold. It doesn't overheat (doesn't go past the center mark on the dash gauge)....but just seems to get a LOT warmer quicker than most mopars I've had....and this is just idling in park...haven't driven it yet cause the brakes are out....that's another issue.

 

[moperformance]

place your hand at different locations in front of the radiator, after the thermostat has opened (you'll see the water flowing in the tank). If some spots are a lot cooler than others than water isn't flowing through that portion of the radiator. Probably needs flushed from sitting. An old trick is to drill two 3/16" holes on each side of the thermostat (in the flat part away from the valve). This will allow enough water to flow through to insure there isn't any air trapped under the thermostat. The air acts like an insulator keeping the water away from the temperature sensing portion of the valve to delay or keep it from opening.
Hope this helps,
Good Luck!

 

[nm9stheham]

If it does not overheat, then the t-stat is working. But, with sitting, it would not hurt. Make sure to get a good Stant brand t-stat, not a cheapo.

Many things could cause unusually fast heating: water pump impeller loose, air in system, combustion gas leak from head gasket leak, etc. I'd focus on the brakes first; a blown engine is easier to fix than a wrecked car! Then re-visit the cooling system when you can drive it on the road and evaluate further..

 

[super-bee_ski]

If it does not overheat, then the t-stat is working. But, with sitting, it would not hurt. Make sure to get a good Stant brand t-stat, not a cheapo.

Many things could cause unusually fast heating: water pump impeller loose, air in system, combustion gas leak from head gasket leak, etc. I'd focus on the brakes first; a blown engine is easier to fix than a wrecked car! Then re-visit the cooling system when you can drive it on the road and evaluate further..

X2

And when a car/truck sits for a while I always get a POWER FLUSH....
Rule No 1: Change that coolant periodically!