> I've read two articles ont he Thermostat housing bypass plug mod.
> One says to drill a 1/8" hole and the other (TeriAnn's) says to
> drill a 3/8" hole in the plug.
>
> What is correct please ?
> Any first hand experiances ?
Pat, I don't think there is a "correct" answer. My personal, first hand
experience has been that skirted thermostats, and blocking the bypass
because you don't have one, is a complete red herring.
Once, when I was having troubles with overheating, I tried blocking the
bypass both completely and with different sizes of holes. It made no
detectable difference, except that with a completely blocked bypass I could
see the water temperature oscillate when the thermostat opened. I even
tried a skirted thermostat, still no help.
Now, with the overheating solved (recored radiator), I don't overheat with
the bypass open, even running at 80mph+ in 105+ heat. I do use an electric
fan, but only at speeds below 30 mph (unless I forget to turn it off).
On my previous TR3A, I ran an entire summer with no fan at all (and the
bypass open), by just shutting the engine off when I was stopped. Not
practical in heavy traffic of course, but traffic wasn't as heavy then. But
that engine was somewhat modified, might be that the mods helped keep the
water cool.
So, IMO, there will be no detectable difference between using a 1/8" hole
and a 3/8" hole. YMMV of course.
BTW, my current TR3A does have the cardboard air deflector in front of the
radiator, even though it wasn't fitted by the factory. The previous one did
not.
Randall
59 TR3A daily driver TS39781LO (sidelined for OD gearbox install)
63 Sports 6 rustoration project HB7826LCV
71 Stag daily driver Real Soon Now LE1473L
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