160 T-stat in an 89 YJ

west747

New member
i did a search but came up empty handed...( i did read a couple good threads tho but there were mixed opinions in them.)here we go...

i was wondering if anyone else runs a 160 t-stat in there carbed 258? i cant see a downside to this as this motor has no computers or sensors in it. i know it is hard on the motor to run it without a t-stat so i figured throwing a 160 in their would be the next best thing. (this t-stat is meant for an amc 360 but worked and lookes the same as my 195)

let me know what ya think...

oh yeah i dont need any heat as i dont drive this thing in the winter.
 
i would tug but i have heard that without a t-stat the coolant will run through the motor too fast taking away some of its cooling ablity..i have no idea if this is true or not...does anybody know if this is a correct assumption??....i have never ran a motor without a t-stat
 
You do need some restiction to allow the collant to transport the heat. With the lower temp you will notice less preformance and lower gas mileage. When its cold I can't have the choke on my jeep open completely until it almost hits 170 or else it will stall at all stopd signs. I could tune that out but it would mean a much higher idle speed. Whats' wrong with running a 195? 195 is the lower limite where it can run. Hitting 210 or 220 would not cause any problems I just wouldn't let it get might higher than that.
 

The raiting of the thermostat will not make the engine run at that exact temp. It only means that the t-stat will open at that temp. If you have no overheating probs then don't try to fix them. If you find that you do have an overheating prob then fix the prob. No thermostat will cause the warming up proscess to take longer and can allow the water to pass too quickly thru the radiator to allow it to disapate heat. I am sure that in some applications no t-stat could help an overheating prob but I think that the real cure is being overlooked when one does this. Many people build a "hopped up" engine but fail to upgrade the cooling system. Removing the t-stat is not an upgrade as much as it is a bandaid.
 
Only cause I love having heat in the winter, I keep the factory set 210 T stat. I have heard of people running 180 with no issue, but Just like a motor running too hot, you don't want the motor running too cold. I would step down to a 190 or 180 and see if you like that set up. Another option would be some other cooling mods, 3 row radiator, electric fan, high volumn water pump, etc...
 
thanks for the replies and info...has anybody tried running a 160 t-stat in a carbed 258 tho...because i am curious i am going to try the 160 out( still need steering so it might be a while before i can get back to you about it). i was having over heating issues last summer with my 195 t-stat. she would go up to 240 and bubble over while doing a long pull or deep hole.
 

I'm no expert, but if you were getting up to 240, I don't think that a thermostat's going to help you. At 195 degrees, a 195 and 160 degree thermostat are wide open. If the fluid is getting too hot, changing the valve that lets it go to the radiator isn't going to make it any cooler. The 160 will make your engine take longer to get to 195, but from that point on, it should perform the same...
 
185 and a high volume electric water pump. aux fan as a pusher, toggled to the dash for extra shedding ability when hot. dont move water to quickly, it takes time to sink heat to the fluid. factory is a 64/36 mix af to h2o, try 50/50 to move heat a little quicker
 
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