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MG MGA - thermostat and blanking plate

My cooling system is all new including the radiator. I am running just a modern thermostat. It runs fine. After reading the thread on overheating some of us were talking about using a modern thermostat and a blanking plate, just to get as much cooling as we can. How many of you guys are doing this and what do you think?
Jim.
Jim Jensen

I installed this arrangement last year. I did it as an experiment while I was doing other maintenance on the car. Let me state that going into this arrangment, I did not have an overheating problem; I just wanted to make the cooling system as efficient as possible. The car runs very well -- no difference with respect to running temperature.

However, if you your willing to spend $40, Moss now sells orginal style thermostat that blocks off the lower port when the car comes to the proper temperature. You may want to consider this if it concerns you.
Arthur DiLello

I have removed the Thermostat and installed a Moss blanking sleeve for £6.70 in UK.
Two other options that I have used on MG's in the past.
One. Remove the inner workings of the thermostat, which works almost the same as the blanking sleeve.
Two. Some thermostats have a small by-pass hole in the side, incase the thermostat fails. This can be enlarged to increase free flow.
I tend to race every once in a while, so thermostats are useless in this event.

<MARK>
Mark Hester

Has anyone used the 'new' Moss original style thermostat? If so, is the cooling system now operating more efficiently? Wasn't this thermostat design prone to frequent failure when supplied as original equipment? -M.S.
Martin Straka

I have been running a blanking sleeve and regular thermostat at least 5 years in a 1958 MGA and experience no overheating or other problems. The logic in the combination makes sense when you look at the original design and the bypass hole in the head. With that said I did staighten the radiator fins some and the radiator (original) was rebuilt about 6 years ago. Good luck.
Bill Haglan

Ditto to Bill. I believe the 170 degree thermo/blanking sleeve combo is the way to go.

Mark
Mark J

My opinion is don't remove the thermostat. It's there to warm the engine quicker, a good thing. As is the original type stat with the "skirt" to block the bypass. I haven't had the need to use a blanking plate, as my original stats have always worked fine. And at $40 a pop, I hope they continue..hehe.
Tom

This thread was discussed between 20/05/2005 and 22/05/2005

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