I took out my thermostat cause I think it may be part of my problem. I can litterally push "both" of the disc on it open. Is this normal? Could it be took weak and just staying open? The car is running way hot and seems to have a bad surge and stutter once it gets warmed up under part throttle. If I floor it, it takes off like normal. I am going to get a new one in the a.m. any way. I am going to clean the IAC just for good measure also. Any ideas?

 

replace the stat and see what happens, since your at it flush the system out, make sure you bleed the air out to when your done

 

I plan on that. I am just trying to find some for sure answers. I planning on going to Atlanta for the F-body gathering and now the car is doing this. My registration abd hotel are already paid and everything.

 

You can compress both of the springs in the thermostat by hand, but is takes a little force.

 

Well, you CAN test the thermostat. Make up a pot of hot water. Use a thermometer and make it the same temp as the 'stat. Drop the 'stat in the water and it should open. Turn off the heat and watch when the valve closes on it.

Or, you could just save yerself the trouble and buy a new one like you already plan on doing.

- Brent

 

u can use the pot of water if u want to test it. but if u already have it out, why not go ahead and replace it. it is worth the $3-$4 IMO.

 

$3-4? Good luck finding an LT1 thermostat that cheap.

 

maybe i'm just missing something here but -

if you think it's staying open, why would that cause it to run HOT?

i would think having the stat open 100% of the time would keep your temps down fairly low, maybe lower than a 160* stat.

there is a thread someplace of a discussion on the DAMAGE posible from removing the stat. something to the effeect that the coolant circulates too fast to efficiently remove the heat from the engine block. it will give a cool reading on the temp gauge because the coolant isn't all that hot, but the engine itself is actually overheating.

just a thought