Tropical TR
Jedi Hopeful
Offline
Given that everything else which can affect cooling on a TR is in order (radiator/cap/shroud, pump, tuning/timing) one generally wants to have a decent thermostat. This is a much discussed topic on various fora as I have found: Traditional bellows vs. modern, modern with or w/o holed bypass plug, high flow vs. standard, and 160 (summer)/180 (normal)/190 (winter), etc. versions, brand performance (i.e., Stant, Robert Shaw); not to mention where they all might be made these days.
I came upon this article written by one of our Aussie TR friends which talks about Tridon High Flow thermostats and his investigations:
https://www.tr-register.com.au/Files/technical/Too Cool a TR.pdf
Over here, I believe Tridon is MotorRad under its own name and others. As I understand there is also a Stant high flow model available through Summit Racing/others.
https://www.motoradusa.com/parts-locator.aspx#
The TR2/3 manual specifies (original bellows) thermostat opening at 150 degrees and full open at 197, which is ca. 15 degrees beyond normal operating temperature. Does a modern thermostat need to start opening as early as 150 if it opens quicker? Should a"160" thermostat be used for hot/summer climates? Often, manufacturer sites (including Tridon in Australia) default to 180 degree versions for the TR2/3/4.
However, the author of the above article swears by the high flow 170 version and (according to him) it remains only about 25% open at 180 degrees, resulting in more operating flexibility as required.
When I parked my TR3A 17 years ago and put it into storage, it was boiling over after a drive from northern to southern VA. Who knows what it was then (in fact it was several things, probably least of all the thermostat...), but none of those potential culprits will be left when the car rolls again. Would be very interested in views of those who have visited the thermostat issue time and again as to what constitutes an efficient modern replacement for moderate to very hot weather, and what they think about the above product or something like it.
Regards,
Walter
I came upon this article written by one of our Aussie TR friends which talks about Tridon High Flow thermostats and his investigations:
https://www.tr-register.com.au/Files/technical/Too Cool a TR.pdf
Over here, I believe Tridon is MotorRad under its own name and others. As I understand there is also a Stant high flow model available through Summit Racing/others.
https://www.motoradusa.com/parts-locator.aspx#
The TR2/3 manual specifies (original bellows) thermostat opening at 150 degrees and full open at 197, which is ca. 15 degrees beyond normal operating temperature. Does a modern thermostat need to start opening as early as 150 if it opens quicker? Should a"160" thermostat be used for hot/summer climates? Often, manufacturer sites (including Tridon in Australia) default to 180 degree versions for the TR2/3/4.
However, the author of the above article swears by the high flow 170 version and (according to him) it remains only about 25% open at 180 degrees, resulting in more operating flexibility as required.
When I parked my TR3A 17 years ago and put it into storage, it was boiling over after a drive from northern to southern VA. Who knows what it was then (in fact it was several things, probably least of all the thermostat...), but none of those potential culprits will be left when the car rolls again. Would be very interested in views of those who have visited the thermostat issue time and again as to what constitutes an efficient modern replacement for moderate to very hot weather, and what they think about the above product or something like it.
Regards,
Walter