Hey Jack:
$26.95 is NOT a lot of money, when you consider the other cash we've blown on
our cars. I've been fortunate to land two original Smith's thermostats for my
'4 at about $25.00 each. For the guy who's stuck with an aftermarket piece of
junk, the money should be a non-issue.
BTW, thanks sharing the info... it has already been entered in the "parts"
archive.
"And to think, it all started with a tractor!"
Don Sforza dsforza@megahits.com KA1WV
1963 TR4 Connecticut Triumph Register CT16707L
Southington, Connecticut
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> From: Jack I. Brooks <brooks@belcotech.com>
> To: Triumphs@autox.team.net
> Cc: TRFmail@aol.com; moss@mossmotors.com
> Subject: Skirted thermostats - Newly manufactured
> Date: August 4, 1997 12:50 PM
>
> Recently a New Jersey Triumph Association club (& list) member, Bruce Hoppe,
> discovered that a Jaguar restoration shop was producing a modern skirted
> thermostat, which he thought was similar in size to those use in the
> TR2/3/4's. This restorer commissioned a machine shop to produce these
> thermostats for them. I saw Bruce's thermostat at a club meeting and was
> satisfied with the quality. I purchased one, measured, tested and installed
it.
>
> The Jaguar thermostat is working well in my TR3A. It is a modern 160F
> thermostat, which has been modified to include a skirt. The skirt is brazed
> onto the thermostat in a very neat and clean manner. There is no
> "bleed/vent" hole at the top of the thermostat flange.
>
> This thermostat operates slightly different than the skirted thermostats we
> are used to. The OEM thermostat has a skirt which is starts out behind the
> bypass hole and moves forward, to block the bypass hole as the water
> temperature rises. The Jaguar reproduction is just the opposite. The skirt
> sits against the thermostat flange, in front of the bypass hole when it it
> cold and moves backward, to block the bypass hole, as the water temperature
> rises.
>
> The dimensions I measured on the thermostat and my TR3A housing are shown
below:
>
> Dimension Thermostat My TR3A thermostat housing
>
> Skirt Diameter 1.930 inch 1.967 inch
> Skirt length 0.400 inch
> Skirt movement @ 180F 0.320 inch
> Bypass hole (from Flange) 0.375 inch
> Bypass hole (diameter) 0.430 inch
>
> If you "stack up" the skirt length and movement dimensions you will find
> that the skirt moves almost exactly enough to cover the bypass hole.
>
> On top of my stove, the 160F thermostat begins to open at 160-165, achieving
> full open by 180F. It might have gone to full open at a lower temperature,
> with more time, but I didn't realize this inadequacy in my test procedures
> until after the thermostat was installed in my car.
>
> I didn't measure the percent "open area" for water flow, but it was at least
> as good as most thermostats I have seen.
>
> Two downsides:
>
> 1. The thermostat costs $26.95 plus shipping.
>
> 2. The opening temperature is approx 160F, but full open does not occur
> right away, so the normal operational temperature is somewhat above 160F,
> more like 165F (electronic thermometer), but only extended idling (15+
> minutes) will drive it above 180-190F.
>
> As as aside, my cooling system (I think) was in pretty good condition before
> I installed this thermostat. I use 70/30 water/antifreeze mix, w/water
> wetter. Keep in mind, that no thermostat will cure cooling system
> deficiencies and YMMV.
>
> The source is XK's Unlimited, 800-444-5247. They are a reputable shop and
> advertise in British car magazine. They have a site at www.xks.com
> Tell them what car the thermostat is for, your TR, but the bottom line is
> that their thermostat is designed for a XK120/140 Jaguar.
>
> (TRF, Moss, Vicki Brit & others - did you catch the name of that source?)
>
> I have no financial or other interest in XK's, although I wouldn't mind one
> of their XK140 restored race cars (check out their site). I told them, if
> it worked for me I'd be telling a few hundred of my closest friends, but
> still couldn't get a freebie. (I'm only kidding, I didn't ask)
>
> Also, From the SAAB list I learned about Mercedes-Benz anti-freeze. M-B
> created it because they were experiencing a significant number of head
> gasket and cooling system related failures. I have heard that it is double
> buffered (against acid and base build ups). This is reputed to eliminate
> the salt (white chalky deposits) and goop buildups some of us find in our
> radiators and engine water passages. I have not yet tried this stuff
> ($10/gallon) but will by the end of the summer. Just another thought....
>
> BTW - After replacing your thermostat let the system get hot (pressurized)
> and check for leaks. A cold (unpressurized) coolant system test, done the
> night before, may not reveal the substantial leak that a three mile jaunt
> into town for bagels on a Sunday morning at 6AM will. You may not have
> enough coolant left to make it home, unless you keep a gallon of water in
> the boot. You may not have to put up with the smirk of a Porche Targa
> driver as you run through a red light and begin coasting down the last hill
> on the way to your home with the engine off. To quote others on this list
> "How do I know this?" ;-)
>
> Jack Brooks
>
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