[Mgs] How hot should my MG-B ?

[Councill, David]

I would think that's normal. A 160 degree thermostat just means that it
will open at 160, but your cooling system will reach an equilibrium at a
point warmer than that (unless it is really cold out). Older MGs had an
actual temperature gauge of which my 67 BGT with 190 degree thermostat
typically runs about 200 degrees or at least that is how I remember it.
It has been buried under a snow drift since sometime in November. But
the snow is slowly melting so I may dig it out in the next few weeks if
we don't get anymore snow.

David Councill
64 B restoration
67 BGT snowed under
72 B also under snow

---Original Message-----
From: mgs-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:mgs-bounces at autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Eugene Balinski
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 3:18 PM
To: mgs at Autox.Team.Net
Subject: [Mgs] How hot should my MG-B ?

All,

   The (relatively) mild weather here in the north east has
me starting to think about getting the car ready for the
spring.

    Late last summer and in to the fall, I was chasing an
overheating problem that was either caused by or did cause
a crack in the head around the #2 spark plug.

    In any event, the new head is on along with new water
pump, hoses, and  160 degree thermostat.  The radiator
remained as it seemed to be flowing OK.

    My question to the group is:  how hot should my 1980
MGB  be ?  During a cool day (40's), I ran the car until it
warmed up and the fan started to cycle.   I received one of
the Moss IR hand held thermometers for Christmas, and used
it to measured the temp of the top of the radiator. The
radiator was 200 degrees +/- near where the water enters.
  Is this normal with a 160 degree thermostat ?

Gene

80 B