They offer temperatures varying from 160 to 190 degrees. Any suggestions for a stock 67 firebird 400? Thanks!

I like the 180.

I run a 180 also

Assuming the '67 is the same as the '68 specs, a 190 degree is standard.

Heh dude! That's a nice looking BERD. Do you have some more pics?

IIRC mine is a 190 also...but in a 400 from 72

Up here in Canada a 180F is a summer stat and 190F is a winter stat. Why would you want the engine hotter in summer, states side?

Curious

I think I would want the engine to run the same temperature all year. If the optimum performance, efficiency and longevity is maintained at a particular temperature, I don't believe the season should matter.

IMO, use whatever it came with from factory. I'm sure the engineers had a reason to specify what they thought was best.

the thermostat doesnt set the engine temperature...only sets the level when it opens the circulation of the coolant....if the radiator isnt big enough , it wont matter what temp the stat opens..its going to run hot anyway...I had to finally replace my radiator to a alum 3 core to get it to run 190-200 in summers...it always ran 205-215 before....in the winter I prefer a warmer running engine anyway...not much difference on 180 and 190 , but cooler engine wears quicker

Yep, them Engineers, they know EVERYTHING!

Takes a lot of skill to run those big trains.

And don't forget all the training it takes to toot the horn as well!

I run 180 and that sabout where it stays checked with the digital thermometer....on hot days sitting in a line up more than 20 minutes it has crept up somewhat but cools right down as soon as I get moving...

Send us a pic with you railroad hat on! lol

Colder running temps increase wear. Its not linear though and starts to become negligible at about 170° on (from below 160° it gets increasingly worse).

The reason for specifying the even higher temps are reduced emissions and improved fuel economy.

So, what the engineers specified was likely to be biased towards the emissions and fuel economy side, not best for peak power.

Did some research on the net. I figured cooler would be better but it's not. It would best to have a hotter eng (180F) with really good coolant and a cold air supply (RA) into your intake.

It reduces the amount of time your engine fan works to cool the engine thus improves power and fuel economy.

Use less HP all the time with a stock flex fan! IMO

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-internal-engine/241922-hot-cold-engine-better.html
http://www.evanscooling.com/

you didnt trust me?? LOL

"modern" engines run around 210F

I had the guys at NAPA tell me 195 was original for a 400 car. So that's what I put in. If you check their website - it does say that's the OEM temp.

Like others have said before, if you are finding you need to change to a lower temp thermostat because of problems, you have bigger issues you need to deal with anyway (radiator, baffle plates, water pump divertor clearance, fan, clutch...)

Ok. Guess I always gotta be different...again. I run a 160* year round. Temps normally run 170-175 all the time. A bit higher when the ambient temps are 95* and above or if sitting in stop and go for more than 45 minutes.

Someone explain to me why a cooler engine wears faster. Friction is what causes wears and more friction creates more heat. Less friction, less heat. I get that motor oil needs to be a certain viscosity to lubricate properly and is a function of how warm it is but not everybody runs the same grade or weight so I don't think you can generalize on the basis of oil used.

I do not agree with cooler engine = engine wear either but as I noted above I agree with the 180F or the stat.

Yes I did, but I had to prove myself wrong first.
Carve yourself a notch on the wall. lol

In one of the Pontiac engine building books (maybe Jim Hand's book) it starts right out by saying "install the temp thermostat that you want your Pontiac engine to run at". Plain and simple.

If your car will not stay at the thermostat temp you need to be looking at your cooling system/carb settings/timing.