VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Thermostat in1937 master deluxe

My 37 manual says for regular use 142 degree stat, for antifreeze use 162 degree state, for economy ( whatever that is) use 170 degree stat. My question is, Is it O.K. to use a 180 degree stat in a 37 MD?. It was only 11 degrees here in Ohio today and the heater was putting out heat but only nice warm heat, not hot heat. My gauge reads about 160 so I'm guessing it has a 160 stat in it. Is anybody running a 180 year round?
Thanks,Doc

It seems to me that if your cooling system is otherwise okay, that running a 180 degree thermostat would acceptable.

I think that the factory recommendation was owing merely to the type of antifreeze used at the time.

Best,
Charlie

If you have a 160 & are only getting warm air you likely have a failing thermostat. Stick your hand in 160 deg water, that's HOT. I have a 160 in my '38 and have to close the doors on my heater to keep it from running me out. The air coming out of the two slits on the bottom of the heater are more than enough to keep us pleasantly warm. You're braver than I am running your car in 11 deg temps. With the splash & drip oiling system we have I don't run mine under 30 deg because it takes the oil too long to thin enough to properly lubricate.

They didn't have a 180 Deg. thermostat in 1937. If you did run a 170 back then you had to run a so called permenant antifreeze to prevent boiling on warm days as the alchol based antifreeze boiled at a lower point than permenant. At 160, if the coolant gets that hot, it should give reasonable heat. In 1937 winter fronts (covering over grille or radiator) were still used in zero weather. Also the oiling system worked as good as any in cold weather. The Chevrolet oiling system gave instant lubrication to the rod bearings where as a full pressure system took awhile for the oil to pump through the drilled crankshaft and get to the rod bearins. #10 oil was used in those days where the much better oils today flow bwtter in cold weather. 10W-30 still a good winter choice unless the temp. gets below -10 Deg. The 5W-30 works greeat.

Hello DocHarley,

I have a '37 MD and use a 180 thermostat with 50/50 Advanced Auto antifreeze. Thru the last part of the summer (back on the road after repairs) it would run at or just below 180 degrees. I did add a 3/16 hole to the flat part of the flange to aid in the passing of any air in the system.

I have not had any issues with it and with the mild weather here in New England I have had my MD out and the heater works great.

Thanks for reply,s . Just a quick question on 3/16 hole drilled in flat part of flange. Is that hole drilled in flat part of thermostat itself or somewhere else. I currently have no issues with radiator leaking or boiling over or air bubbles.( I guess I should leave well enough alone). The heater works well @ 30 degrees & above. It,s when it,s in the teens & below that it can,t keep up. I have climate controlled garages, 73 degrees winter,69 summer.The car never sits out longer than 10 minutes while I go in somewhere. I let it warm up to operating temp completely before I ever put it in gear.The temp gauge stays @ about 160.
Thanks to all for great info,
Doc

Hello DocHarley,

The 3/16 was drilled into the flat part of the thermostat flange. I had read about this in a chapter of a book discussing modifying engines and cooling systems. This mod is used to help "pressurized" systems to bleed trapped air before the thermostat opens.

My thought was that although our systems are not pressurized, allowing any trapped air would only benefit engine warm-up.