Thermostat suggestions for 427 in Arizona

[428Marauder]

Hi all,

So, I have a 63 R code Galaxie that I’ve been having trouble with some heat soak on the starter. I’m in the process of going through the cooling system and have the radiator and overflow tank outside of the car now. The thermostat connects to the tank and I could easily replace it. Car used to live in colder Indiana but it’s here in Arizona now. Thoughts?

[GerryP]

A 180 will work just fine.  If the engine has a propensity to overheating, a cooler thermostat won't fix that.  It will only give you a couple more minutes before it does overheat.

[428Marauder]

No, it doesn’t overheat, just the starter heat soak issue. Came apart clean so I’m just going to leave it in there. I’ll have to look up what it is. Someone told me they had the same problem and dialing back the timing solved the problem, which I will try next if this cooling system flush doesn’t do it.

[GerryP]

Test the voltage drop between the battery and the starter terminal on the starter.  To do that, you get the system in the circumstance where you get what you call heat soak, then put one end of the multimeter (DC voltage) on the positive side of the battery terminal and the other probe on the starter terminal.  You crank the engine and the value you see on the meter is the voltage reaching the starter.  If it is below battery voltage, you have a problem in you circuit.  Could be corrosion on the cables or in the solenoid.  To test the starter, you need an amp clamp or a high amperage tester to measure the amp draw by the starter.

[428Marauder]

Thanks Gerry,

It’s got a brand new RobbMc 3001 in it, so the starter should be good. New starter cable also. Could be somewhere else in the circuit though.

[jmlay]

If you have not already, verify ground as well.

[GerryP]

Thanks Gerry,

It’s got a brand new RobbMc 3001 in it, so the starter should be good. New starter cable also. Could be somewhere else in the circuit though.

I wrote my instructions wrong.  What you see on the meter is the actual voltage loss from point to point.  You will not see battery voltage in the voltage drop test.

[Stangman]

What is your actual timing that you want to back it off. Do you have any shielding on the cable going down to the starter. The ground is clean I expect meaning no paint in between. Is this a stock build. It might need timing more advanced.