Its cold in here!

[Laxxplyr]

I have a barely modified 89 GT that is freezing cold...

Last summer, I was staionted in Oklahoma City and decided to have the air conditioning system rebuilt. After the AC was up and running great, I started having problems with the car overheating at stop lights with the AC on. The previous owner decided it was a good idea to install underdrive pullys. Ok if all you do is drive you car to the track and back. I switched out the water pump pully with the original pully, and then went to a 3 row aluminum radiator. After that, the temp seemed to stay pretty consistant. Now, I am stationed in Colorado Springs, and in Janurary, I never even had to look at the temp gauage, except for the fact that the car never seems to be able to hold a good temp. As soon as I start driving, the temp will go down to the 120 range, which makes me assume that the thermostat is never even opening, due to the cold temperatures. Please, any advice would be much appreciated! I really do not want to think that I would have to change the thermostat (5 months old), also, I have been keeping a 80/20 mix of AF/water in the car, due to the cold temps!

Thanks guys and gals!

[HiFlow5 0]

Well if the stat never opened the temp would not drop to 120*, it would rise. What are you running for a stat, temp wise? Please don't tell me a 160* unit?

[Laxxplyr]

you know, I cant remember what I ended up putting back in the car. I took it too some a**holes in OKC that specialized in Mustangs to change my header gaskets, and they told me my new thermostat was not opening, so they replaced it. I think they put a 180 in it.


Those guys sucked anyways.

[HiFlow5 0]

My personal experence says, never to run anything other then the stock temp t-stat. I always run a 192* stat all year round, granted I don't drive my car in the winter though.

If they put a cooler stat in the car, the car will not heat up to proper operating temp, and in the winter can run too cool.

[Laxxplyr]

Well,

Thanks for you help so far. Now, the next step obviously would be to put a 192 in the car. After that, what would be any recourse if I have the same problem? I am just trying to stay ahead of the game. Thanks again

[Kessler24]

I have the same problem with my 88. It sat in a field for bout 5 years before i bought. And now its my everyday driver and soon to be restoration project. But I have the same problem and cant seem to figure it out. I've replaced 2 thermostats and they were 192s and the car heats up a little while idling but when i drive it goes back down to bout 120. Need some help before it gets too cold! Lol