Re: where to buy spider cool thermostats

[C2slayman@xxxxxxx]

Matt,

> Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2003 00:49:24 -0700
> From: <mphilpot@domain.elided>
> Subject: where to buy spider cool thermostats
> 
> Hi all
> 
> My 1988 Spider has been feeling the heat a little out here in Southern
> California where the summer temperatures are up in the 100degF territory
> again.
> I've just had the whole cooling system serviced with the radiator cleaned

By cleaned, do you mean rodded?  That is, taking the bottom and top tank off 
and running a rod through the core tubes?  If you had "mayonnaise," my 
experience is the only successful way to clean the radiator is to rod it.  No 
chemicals seem the shift  the compound that results from this mixture of oil and 
coolant. 

> and a new head gasket put in since the mayonnaise was appearing in the oil.
> Stays around 185 but climbs up a bit on the really hot days.
> The Alfa mechanic I know here recommended I should put in a low temperature
> thermostat.
> I've tried a few places but I haven't found anyone who sells one for this
> Spider.
> Does anyone out there know where I can get one ??

I can't comment on availability of a cooler thermostat.  But if your engine 
is running above the thermostats set point on a hot day, I doubt a cooler 
thermostat will help.  This is an indication that the thermostat is not a 
restriction (or maybe it has been damaged by overheating from the original "mayonnaise" 
incident - pull it and check it in a hot water pot with a thermometer) in the 
cooling system.  Either the core is clogged or your not getting enough 
airflow.  If the fan is working, it might be back to the radiator core or checking 
the thermostat.

> I've seen a few articles which talk about drilling the diaphragm. Does this
> work
> well ?? Does anyone have experience of doing this on a road going car ?
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Matt

My experience with the Spider cooling system is that it is over-engineered.  
So if it can't keep the engine cool on even the hottest days, something is not 
in proper working order.

I think Fred's advice would be to tighten the fan belt before doing anything 
else.

Good Luck,
Charlie
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