fe thermostat question

[wrench87]

i have the chrome made in taiwan t stat housing i bought a stant 13478 180 thermostat but it appears to be to big for the recessed opening in the housing,what is the proper t stat to use?.

[Mike Bartlett]

Here is a link for an FE stat assuming your housing is correct. Also the 2nd link is some discussion on thermostats, etc.

http://performanceunlimited.com/cobr...hermostat.html

Removing the thermostat?

Good luck...

Mike

[rustyBob]

Ford used two different t-stat housings on the FE.....one is a large diameter t-stat and the other uses a small t-stat that is the same size as most t-stats used on most american made cars....

[undy]

65 and earlier FE manifolds/expansion tanks use the large diameter stat, also same stat as early 65 vintage Chryslers used.

Late 65 and later FE manifolds/expansion tanks use the smaller stat, the same size as semi-late model Ford/Chebby and Chrysler's do.

[FWB]

wrench,
your info says you have a small block, is it a big block or small block you are having the trouble with the t-stat.
if it is a big block the early t-stats were large and i believe 67 and up were the smaller diameter. if you need the smaller, a ford pickup with a 360 or 390 would be a good application to use at the autoparts store, say 1974 -76

[rustyBob]

actually if memory serves me correctley( and it dosent do that very often ) you can trim the large t-stat to the first ring around the out side and that makes it the same size as the small t-stat...

[wrench87]

fwb, this is for my 445fe strokerthis is going to replace my342 stroker. the t stat housing i have is for the smaller t stat i bought the larger one by mistake,just looking for a part number for stant. also i am running a 195 t stat in my 342 because i have efi, is it possible to run a 190 in a fe?, the reason i ask is i have a sending unit in my degas tank for my dual fans but they come on at 213 degrees .

[FWB]

i don't see any reason why you couldn't run a 190 t-stat. i have a 180 in mine and motor runs at 190-195, i don't think the fans coming on at 213 is where you want to be, i would try to be at 195-200 with the fans. personally i don't like to see my motor getting above 200-205. i don't run an oil cooler so my oil temps are probably at 210-220.