Thermostat question

[cougar9150]

While I have the MM apart I will be changing the Thermostat just as cheap insurance.

A few years back I read an article about a company who has a proprietary design that when their T-stat's do fail they always fail in the open position.

Anyone know what company this is?

If I cannot get find the one I'm asking about above I'll just use a Ford 180° t-stat instead. Can someone provide the Ford P/N for this?

Thanks.

[Big Black Beast]

Just drill a hole in it.

[fastblackmerc]

These guys drill a few holes in them.

http://www.stewartcomponents.com/tech_tips/Tech_Tips_3.htm

[RF Overlord]

This (http://www.motoradusa.com/products/failsafethermo/index.html) is what you're looking for. You can get them at AutoZone, so I presume you can get them at any national FLAPS.

[cougar9150]

This (http://www.motoradusa.com/products/failsafethermo/index.html) is what you're looking for. You can get them at AutoZone, so I presume you can get them at any national FLAPS.

Thank you sir, couldn't find this to save my life.

I looked it up and they say that P/N 354-180 is the direct interchange for the Stant P/N 14138 (this is the correct Stant # right?)

Just need to find where I can buy one. Autozone doesn't list them on their website, plus doing a search of the P/N doesn't return any hits.

I will probably just buy the Napa THM 109 thermostat or the Hypertech HYP-1025 from Summit if I can't find the Failsafe one.

[babbage]

Thank you sir, couldn't find this to save my life.

I looked it up and they say that P/N 354-180 is the direct interchange for the Stant P/N 14138 (this is the correct Stant # right?)

Just need to find where I can buy one. Autozone doesn't list them on their website, plus doing a search of the P/N doesn't return any hits.

I will probably just buy the Napa THM 109 thermostat or the Hypertech HYP-1025 from Summit if I can't find the Failsafe one.


Try one of these:

http://www.performanceunlimited.com/cobravalley_drivetrain/thermostat.html

[RF Overlord]

Just need to find where I can buy one. Autozone doesn't list them on their websiteI bought the one in my work van at a local AZ...it may not be on their website, but they had it in the store.

[cougar9150]

Called the local AZ and they can get them. The parts guys started bashing them though and said that they were nothing special and then went on a roll about high flow thermostats, keeping the water in the block, over cooling, not cooling enough etc, etc...

I will go there and take a look at one of the failsafes and try to avoid the guy I talked to on the phone.

Just saw your link babbage, going to call those guys tomorrow and see what shipping is. I have a hard time paying $20 for a $15 part.

[ImpalaSlayer]

Called the local AZ and they can get them. The parts guys started bashing them though and said that they were nothing special and then went on a roll about high flow thermostats, keeping the water in the block, over cooling, not cooling enough etc, etc...

I will go there and take a look at one of the failsafes and try to avoid the guy I talked to on the phone.

most people that work at those stores are morons

[cougar9150]

Called the local AZ and they can get them. The parts guys started bashing them though and said that they were nothing special...

most people that work at those stores are morons

Oh I know, that's why this AZ is on my banned list. Only time I go there is when I have exhausted my options at the other flaps.

[babbage]

most people that work at those stores are morons


You forgot also that they are lazy and do not care. :rolleyes:

[Todd]

If you read the Cobra forums, most guys recommend the Reische Performance thermostats. I ordered one for my car but havent installed it yet. Mine cools fine but I will be pulling the radiator to install the fans sometime between now and A/C time. So while I have it out I am going to put the Reische in. They are expensive, but search on the Cobra forums and see what people say.

http://www.lethalperformance.com/03-04-svt-cobra-cooling-thermostats-c-16_245_247/reische-performance-170-degree-high-performance-thermostat-p-29633

http://reischeperformance.com/

[cougar9150]

Thanks Todd, I would have looked at it but I had already bought this one. Wow expensive but rave reviews.

I got my Cobra Valley Thermostat so I thought I would post some comparison pics for everyone to see.

Pics of them closed.

[cougar9150]

Pics of them open. I did this by boiling water and placing the thermostats in. It was hard to catch them both fully open. The Cobra Valley unit would close right up nice and smooth. The Stant one would pop, creak, and hop around while closing. It fits in the housing perfect, will seal right up using the stock O-ring. Guess we will see how it works once in but I think form and fit are nearly identical. It is mainly the open/close mechanism that is different, both seem effective and I don't think their will be an issue with the way it functions. Nor by looking at the flow through portion when it is open do I think it will increase/decrease flow in any dramatic amount over the OE style. Can't tell about the bypass portion of the unit and how it may work.

[babbage]

How is the diameter? The Cobra Valley one looks smaller.

Edit: you said it fits perfectly.

[cougar9150]

Diameter is the same, measured out to 2.125...... approx 54mm like the stock style. Looks smaller because it's shorter and sitting lower than the Stant unit in the looking down pic.

[FordNut]

If you read the Cobra forums, most guys recommend the Reische Performance thermostats. I ordered one for my car but havent installed it yet. Mine cools fine but I will be pulling the radiator to install the fans sometime between now and A/C time. So while I have it out I am going to put the Reische in. They are expensive, but search on the Cobra forums and see what people say.

http://www.lethalperformance.com/03-04-svt-cobra-cooling-thermostats-c-16_245_247/reische-performance-170-degree-high-performance-thermostat-p-29633

http://reischeperformance.com/

I'm thinking I'll get one of these before summer. The explanations at reischeperformance website confirm what I had thought about function of the Cobra thermostat and explains the differences in the sizes of holes in the hot water bypass flow paths (non-Cobra or SOHC has smaller holes due to lower flow requirements). The demo pics also show how the hot water flow is shut off by the opening of the thermostat. Kind of like a 3-way valve instead of an on/off valve.

[ctrlraven]

I'm sold and good timing since my 2 yr coolant flush is due this year.

Need to do the rear head cooling mod also.

[babbage]

I'm thinking I'll get one of these before summer. The explanations at reischeperformance website confirm what I had thought about function of the Cobra thermostat and explains the differences in the sizes of holes in the hot water bypass flow paths (non-Cobra or SOHC has smaller holes due to lower flow requirements). The demo pics also show how the hot water flow is shut off by the opening of the thermostat. Kind of like a 3-way valve instead of an on/off valve.


Ok I don't understand this (3 way valve) What am I missing?

[cougar9150]

After a little more playing I pulled the thermostat housing out and set the 2 units in. The issue I do see here is the height of the Cobra Valley unit never fully blocking the bypass flow in the housing. This is exactly what Brian pointed out in the Overheating thread.

Unfortunately while the function of the Cobra valley opening and closing may be more uniform the actual function of the system is compromised. This will let some hot coolant circulate back to the engine at all times, just like they state in the link Todd posted.

[FordNut]

BINGO!

So when the engine is cold and the thermostat is closed, the engine gets plenty of recirculated (hot) water flow. When the engine is hot and the thermostat is open, the engine gets mixed hot and cold water flow.

The desired function would be when the engine is hot and the thermostat is open, the engine should get cooled water flow and the hot recirculated water flow path should be shut off.

[cougar9150]

Ok I don't understand this (3 way valve) What am I missing?

While the thermostat is in a closed state it flows through the hole in the lower disk and out the bypass holes on the stem. When the thermostat reaches temp and fully opens it closes this bypass. This cuts off flow from coolant not traveling through the radiator, ensuring no hot coolant is not mixed with the cooler fluid that just went through the radiator.

[cougar9150]

I'm going to go pick up the unit from Napa and chalk the cost of this up to a learning experience. $20 well spent if someone else learns from it. Eventually I'll get the one Todd posted but will have to wait awhile as the wife has had enough of this project. No windage tray after spending $300 on my cat at the vet and another $400 for my dog's on going heart issues.

Here are a couple of pics with the thermostat's sitting in the housing.

[babbage]

I apologize I was wrong, sorry about that. I did not know about the bypass. Perhaps you can return it.

Geesh. :o

[FordNut]

With the incorrect type thermostat, the hot recirculated water actually has less flow restriction to the pump than the cooled water from the radiator. The cooled water has to pass through the thermostat which is not fully open to flow due to the valve elements. The recirculated hot water simply flows unrestricted from the thermostat housing to the pump

[cougar9150]

I apologize I was wrong, sorry about that. I did not know about the bypass. Perhaps you can return it.

Geesh. :o

No sweat, like I said a learning experience. Plan on contacting them tomorrow about it.

[Todd]

I'm going to go pick up the unit from Napa and chalk the cost of this up to a learning experience. $20 well spent if someone else learns from it. Eventually I'll get the one Todd posted but will have to wait awhile as the wife has had enough of this project. No windage tray after spending $300 on my cat at the vet and another $400 for my dog's on going heart issues.

Here are a couple of pics with the thermostat's sitting in the housing.



By the time you spend that extra money and the re-spend the money, you could have just got the Reische from the start. And Lethal Performance is in south Florida. One day shipping for us Floridians!

But I understand about timing on money spent. But I just wanted to point out a couple things.

[cougar9150]

C'est la vie, live and learn.