Quick T stat question

[ep67bro]

I am doing an over haul on the heating/cooling system in my 73 bronco. Stock internals on a 302, headers, eldelbrock intake, holley 4barrel carb. What temp thermostat should go in it? The truck currently does not have one. I did a search and saw everything from 175 to 195 deg stats.
I am in Maryland, truck is mainly street use, will be used to plow this winter if we get snow.

 

[DirtDonk]

Generally a 180 is considered standard, with nothing really wrong with a 192 unless you have heating or pinging/pre-ignition issues.
Going lower to a 160 was an old-school racers trick to be able to run harder without pinging. But the drawback is your heater works like crap and you run the risk of never really fully warming up to keep the oil clean and free of excess condensation.

Engines often run better when they're hotter, but only up to a point.
Long way of saying that 180 is likely what you want, but see what luck others might have had with higher temp rated t-stats too.

Paul

 

[jckkys]

I've tried every thing from 165 to 195 and settled on the 195 year round. The cooler thermostats didn't help to keep the engine cooler in the summer and the higher temperature gets moisture out of the oil all year. So the engine wears less, the oil stays cleaner, the heater works better, and you get better fuel economy with the the 195 degree thermostat.

 

[broncodriver99]

X2 on the 195. It was the factory temp and is the best compromise for economy, warm up, and engine wear.

 

[Broncobowsher]

192 (+3 -2) will work real good. Best for engine wear, fuel economy, and heater performance. You don't check any of the tick boxes to warrant a colder thermostat.

 

[ep67bro]

Thanks for the input. Looks like I will try to find a 180 or 190 t stat.
This is a typical bronco repair, started as a heater core replacement, and now has turned into a heater core, intake, carb, t stat, and new antifreeze. Along with a bunch of other little things!%)