Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Eyres
Do we know if there is an average temp. differential between these thermostats? Not just during the warmup cycle.
Do we know what the average engine temp, (on a 70deg day), would be on two identical ZR-1's that had 160, and 180 deg. thermostats, after warm up?
And, what is the ideal engine temp, for performance, on the ZR-1.
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Lets simplify....... You ask a lot of questions but are they relevant?
1. Let us say we have identical radiators, identical rpm, steady state coolant temperature, and both fans on and we are cruising at same speed.
2. Lets say coolant temperature is 190 deg in both your Z and my Z given everything identical in item #1.
3. Your 160 deg thermostat is full open with same flow rate as fully open 180 deg thermostat.
4. My 180 deg thermostat is full open with same flow rate as fully open 160 deg thermostat.
5. In other words...we both have been driving our Zs for say at least 30 minutes and have reached a steady coolant state.
Now......lets say the day gets hotter. The coolant temperatures should rise the same in both your Z and my Z given EVERYTHING else is the same 
If it gets REAL HOT......both our Zs coolant will reach 230 deg at the same time
The maximum temperature reached (given it is over 190 deg) will be no different for you than me even though you have a 160 deg thermostat and I have a 180 deg thermostat.
Or.....have I been on the tractor too long 
I am saying that my thermostat just maintains a minimum temperature higher than yours.
I am also saying your thermostat does not maintain a lower higher temperature than mine. Once both thermostats are fully open, the coolant temperatures are controlled by everything else mentioned in item #1 and not the thermostats (yours or mine).
Same goes for fans......once your fan is on and my fan which may be on at lower temperatures is on.......we have identical radiator cooling no matter how hot it gets outside.
Now if we change radiators.....you run stock radiator and I run Ron Davis....DIFFERENT STORY as I have greater dissipation of heat than you at all rpms (water pump speed dependent) and ZR-1 speeds (air flow dependent).