Quote:
Originally Posted by landsurvey1
Just curious, I am no mechanic by any means. Why would you want your engine to run at such a cool temp. I thought the most efficient engine temp. is around 195 degrees. All the new engines run at 210 all day long?
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New motors are a completely different animal than the old technology...most of the high degree thermostats have to do with the emissions and new combustion chamber technology. Most all
early Gen 1 sbc came from the factory with 180 degree thermostats if 195 would have been more optimal for these engines that's what they would have used. Especially pre 1971 when smog equip was virtually non existent. Horsepower was king and the comparatively low tech motors of the time were built to run best overall at this temp.
A 160 degree temp
can sometimes make a little more power, and curb detonation issues in some high compression engines. But the downside can be too cold of a cumbustion chamber temp which will eventually lead to excessive carbon buildup and possibly an incomplete burn. So on the street a 180 in gen 1 sbc is usually considered the best compromise for both power and clean efficient combustion.
I swapped out the 180 to the 160, because of the detonation, but have since installed an in cab MSD ignition dialback which I can on the fly, adjust the initial and overall timing when I change elevation. Where I live at 2000 ft. the setting is perfect, if I drive to 1000 ft. it will begin to ping, "more dense air". Since max power is made right on the edge of
ping or no
ping I can now just dial it back to the sweet spot a couple degrees at a time.
I will eventually go back to the 180 so I don't worry about carbon buildup problems and possibly "loading up" the plugs at idle.