To disable cooling flaps or not, The endless debate Options

[Root_Werks]

I'm one of those weird people that installed a functioning T-stat system on my Bug (didn't have one) and installed a T-Stat on my wife's 72' Bronco which didn't have one. Waiting an eternity for an engine to warm up on cool/cold PNW days straight up sucks. Regulated cooling systems rock.

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The Bronco didn't have any thermostat?
Good way for it to overheat

Exactly! Water flows too fast through the radiator not giving it enough time to dissipate heat.

-Dan

[VaccaRabite]

Late to the conversation.

I have always run with my Tstat disconnected for a couple reasons -
1) I cold not source a functional one. This may not be a problem anymore - they may be more common.
2) I’m missing the lower tins. It was my impression that the tstat would not bellows properly without the lower tins in place. Right now I’m running heat exchangers so I could source a set and put them on, but sometimes I run headers and can’t use them.

Do I have the wrong information ? Does the tstat work as intended without the lower tins in place? and by lower tins I’m referring the ones that are often missing that sit below the heat exchangers, and not the tins sandwiched between the jugs and the pushrod tubes. Those are in place on my car.


Zach

[JamesM]

Late to the conversation.

I have always run with my Tstat disconnected for a couple reasons -
1) I cold not source a functional one. This may not be a problem anymore - they may be more common.
2) I’m missing the lower tins. It was my impression that the tstat would not bellows properly without the lower tins in place. Right now I’m running heat exchangers so I could source a set and put them on, but sometimes I run headers and can’t use them.

Do I have the wrong information ? Does the tstat work as intended without the lower tins in place? and by lower tins I’m referring the ones that are often missing that sit below the heat exchangers, and not the tins sandwiched between the jugs and the pushrod tubes. Those are in place on my car.


Zach

Its an interesting data point that I would love to see more on. I feel like someone has to have tested this before somewhere.

I personally suspect that the lowest tin, the ones that attach to the head exchangers may have been more for pushrod tube protection than cooling related, but I couldn't say for sure. This is based mainly on two things. 1. the fact that there is tin between the pushrod tubes and the cylinders that direct air around the cylinders, this for sure is needed for proper cooling but the 2nd lower tin, not sure how much more that will add and 2. WBX vanagons have similar tin pieces below the pushrod tubes despite not being air cooled at all.

but if the function is to trap heat around the thermostat... that is something else to look at.

Your first issue is no longer an issue as Awesome powder coat has these new now.

[emerygt350]

I think I may have read somewhere that the lowest tins had something to do with flow across the bottom of the engine but I might be just imagining things... Considering how quickly the tstat closes the flaps after parking a hot engine, I could believe performance might differ missing the tins.

[bdstone914]

I have never liked the failure prone thermostat and thought a solinoid triggered by a temp switch would be a better setup. Pachaging the solenoid and operating linkage would be a challenge

[Jack Standz]

What do you think about a switch triggering electric fans and running a higher amp alternator along with custom "tins" (similar to a Down-The-Middle setup)?

[iankarr]

Another thing to consider if you're in the "i'll never drive in cold temps" camp...

What about the next owner?

Also...from a purely if/then standpoint...

Having the thermostat installed and working properly keeps the engine consistent with the perfromance characteristics designed by the engineers. Deleting the T-stat and flaps creates new variables which may have unpredictable effects.

Why take the risk?