[hhs66]

Another question. I drove it about 5 miles last week back from the interior guy. It only has that many road miles after break in. It was running about 220 on a 95 degree day. Is that about normal? I've heard that Pontiacs run a bit hot. I don't think it's lean but I don't have that many miles on it. Anyone out there have similar experiences? Thanks, Skip

[Chris65LeMans]

This can be a controversial topic around here. I myself figure that if these cars came from the factory with 195 'stats, then they were designed to operate in the 205-215 range. Pontiac called 245 overheating - so if 220 is the hottest that your engine ever gets, I'd be happy with that.

Is your setup okay? I don't think a 5 mile drive is enough to answer that question - get out and drive some more and see how it behaves. Also - get yourself an infared thermometer to check your gauge's accuracy.

For instance - my car (with a '69 400) would run nice and cool on the freeway, but would heat way up in stop and go traffic. (it would just keep climbing on up to 240.) I put in dual electric fans with a custom shroud, and that solved the stop and go problems - but then the car started heating up on the freeways. I got it to where 230 was the max temp it would see and I was happy with that.

Now that I've added power steering and gone from 3.36 to 3.73 gears, it'll hit 243 and climbing on the freeways. (not getting enough flow through the radiator at high speeds.) So - back to work.

[Andre]

With only 5 miles on the engine, I don't think you can pass judgment as yet.

That being said, my '64 post with the stock engine, will see 220+ at speeds over 75 mph, but will cool back down to 190 at 60-65, and stays that way in stop and go.

My 64 convertible with the original 70,000 mile engine and tripower will not go over 180 no matter what I do.

My other '64 convertible with the 389 4 bbl has no temp gauge, It doesn't overheat, and I don't worry about it.

[hhs66]

Thanks, Guys. I guess I'm a bit paranoid about lunching a new, expensive engine. I'll log some miles and keep an eye on the temp gauge. I'll also check the temp with an infrared to see if it's "real world" with the gauge. Skip

[Tom Vaught]

My 64 always ran hot until I put a 180 thermostat in it.
I also installed a new radiator core with the same tanks and that helped.
later it always ran cool even at 3000 rpm going down the road with a 4.33 gear in it.

Tom V.

[rsavage]

I put a 165 stat in mine, put a new 4 core copper radiator, and a shroud with a fixed fan with the blades about 1/2 in and 1/2 out of the shroud. I have driven it 75 miles non stop and 30 miles non stop at 55 mph with OS temp in the low 70's and it stayed at about 175 on a mechanical aftermarket gauge. If I sit idling for 10 minutes or so it will climb to 190 - 195 but will cool down as soon as I am going down the road again. Last Saturday, I drove it 30 miles one way to a show and it was 78 degrees out. Again temp stayed in the range above but I am driving at 50-55 mph with 3.23 gears (about 23-2400 rpms). I worked in a service staion back in the sixties and I don't recall cars of that era running 195 stats - I remember replacing a lot of 180's. It seems to me the 195's came later, but I am getting older and the memory is good but short, as they say.

[The Champ]

I run a 180 degree stat in my '64 GTO and did a 500+ mile run weekend before last. Lot's of highway driving - but also rush hour traffic in Madison, WI.

Rarely had the temp exceed 185, but when it did it only went up to about 190.

This is a 9.5 to 1 compression 462 with 4spd and 3..42 gears.