Superwrench said:
You should always run a thermostat.
Super,
As I stated above, I have not run the thermostat for 15 years. I initially put a 180 in, but in playing with air dams & splitters, a second onboard radiator, fans, shrouds, and a few other tricks, I wanted to see just how each modification (experiment) affected the radiator's ability to cool.
I removed the thermostat and instrumented the radiator INPUT and OUTPUT, enabling me to know how much the radiator was cooling and how much the engine was heating.
The end result was that just in putting around town, the radiator input temperature was 180F-185F and on the highway, the radiator input temp. rose to 190F-195F.
Since that was just where the thermostat would hold the temp., it was just easier to leave it alone than it was to disassemble to install a thermostat.
I agree that everybody should run the thermostat recommended by the manufacturer.
For MY SBF in a Healey... I was the manufacturer.
I have now installed a 24" wide, copper/brass, downflow, radiator in my Healey and have again thermocoupled the top and bottom of the radiator.
As soon as I get a baseline, I will undoubtedly add a thermostat, and/or maybe one at the bottom of the radiator if the coolant is "TOO cool" coming out.
Tim