| Best thermostat for the 403: 195 or 180? [message #282829] |
Wed, 22 July 2015 13:57  |
lw8000
Messages: 201
Registered: July 2012
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 1
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Hi all,
I recently redid some of the radiator hoses on our coach and thought I might as well replace the thermostat since I had the water outlet off. I wasn't sure how old it was or if it had ever been replaced. Well, I ended up putting on a regular Stant thermostat and read this morning that we should only be using the Robertshaw thermostat. So I'll have to get back in there ASAP and get the Stant out of there. The question is, I see there is a 195 and a 180 Robertshaw, and I also see it is very hard to find the original ones and not the Chinese knockoffs (Mr. Gasket). It looks like this site has the original Robertshaw ones:
http://www.flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/store/Thermostats/c22/index.html
So I'm thinking of trying one of these out. The one we had in our coach was a 195. Should I be looking at a 180 instead?
Just wondering why we have the choice of two different ones. I searched but didn't see any discussion on this.
Thanks in advance.
Chris S. -
77 Kingsley, 3.70 FD, mostly OEM -
S.E. Michigan
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| Re: Best thermostat for the 403: 195 or 180? [message #282897 is a reply to message #282829] |
Wed, 22 July 2015 21:59  |
cbryan
Messages: 451
Registered: May 2012
Location: Ennis, Texas
Karma: 3
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I saw a post by Dan Gregg where he said he used to run a 180 in the summer and each winter changed out to a 195 for better cabin heat. To each his own. Thanks to Jim Bounds for letting me know that my belief since 1980 or before that Robertshaw thermostats were the best is no longer operative. I never had one fail by breaking, however. I sure don't like the idea of metal occasionally blocking head passages. I have had them fail repeatedly open until the antifreeze was flushed and changed. Often after many years. A maintenance practice held over from the olden days. I used to take the cap off when cold and see if the antifreeze color was green, and if it didn't look rusty, I thought it was good to go. Not so, as I had a conversation with a friend who repaired vehicles for a living. He says that after the recommended interval, chemical changes occur in the antifreeze and it becomes acidic and commences to eat things in the engine. I have become religious about changing it after learning that. Water pumps started lasting much longer, too. Maintain according to Rob Mueller and the manual.
Don't you have a tire question too? How about which brand of tire is better, combined with inflation recommendations? That should stir things up again.
Best,
Carey
Carey from Ennis, Texas
78 Royale, 500 Cadillac, Rance Baxter EFI.
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| Re: Best thermostat for the 403: 195 or 180? [message #282904 is a reply to message #282897] |
Thu, 23 July 2015 01:15 |
Scott Nutter
Messages: 782
Registered: January 2015
Location: Houston/San Diego
Karma: 4
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Now I am not a engine surgeon, but I have always liked the 180' thermostats. 15 years ago Jim Bounds steered me to the Shaw thermostats(3prong). And I haven't strayed.
Now here's my own personal thing I do, wrong or right, I don't know. Back when I was a kid I had Camaros. I was reading a hot rod magazine and there was a little write up where this guy uses 3prong thermos (Shaws). But he took it one step further. He would drill four 1/8" holes on the sides(that were not structural). That way if the thermostat ever failed, coolant would still bypass. I still do this to this day.
I'm sure there are opinions where this is not the best, but it hasn't failed me yet.........
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, Dave Lenzi super duty mid axle disc brakes, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
[Updated on: Thu, 23 July 2015 01:16] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] Best thermostat for the 403: 195 or 180? [message #283535 is a reply to message #282947] |
Thu, 30 July 2015 11:13 |
lw8000
Messages: 201
Registered: July 2012
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 1
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Thank you for all of the replies. I ended up going with the 195 for now and will see how it goes. Interesting info on the 180 though, might revisit that at some point and try it. But, I did discover that the Robertshaws are getting hard to find. Based on some reading, they may have disappeared a few years ago and have come back recently. After some searching, this place seems to be manufacturing them to original specs:
http://www.flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/store/Thermostats/c22/index.html
I purchased one from them and is what I installed. I posted some pics of it side by side with the original OEM Robertshaw which I believe is the original one installed in the coach:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/403-radiator-hose-replacement/p58793-2015-07-28-183246.html
I also read, and just going by the feedback, that there is a lookalike sold under the Mr. Gasket brand that may be a cheaper version of it made in China, and the quality is questionable. I haven't been able to verify if the one from FlowKooler is made in the USA or not, but they are marketing it under the Robertshaw brand, so I'm good with that.
Hope this may help others faced with this task.
Chris
Chris S. -
77 Kingsley, 3.70 FD, mostly OEM -
S.E. Michigan
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| Re: [GMCnet] Best thermostat for the 403: 195 or 180? [message #283537 is a reply to message #283535] |
Thu, 30 July 2015 11:44 |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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There never was an OEM Robertshaw. The original GM thermostat had a flapper valve that had to be oriented properly when installed.
When that was discontinued GMCers found that the Robertshaw seemed to be the best replacement.
At one time the Mr Gasket thermostat was identical to the Robertshaw (and made by Robertshaw) but I don't know what they are selling now.
Cheaper versions just don't have enough metal support on the "posts" and they tend to break.
The more common Stant founded at most auto parts stores are not right and even some A/C Delco sate not.
Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO
> On Jul 30, 2015, at 10:13 AM, Chris S. wrote:
>
> Thank you for all of the replies. I ended up going with the 195 for now and will see how it goes. Interesting info on the 180 though, might revisit
> that at some point and try it. But, I did discover that the Robertshaws are getting hard to find. Based on some reading, they may have disappeared a
> few years ago and have come back recently. After some searching, this place seems to be manufacturing them to original specs:
>
> http://www.flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/store/Thermostats/c22/index.html
>
> I purchased one from them and is what I installed. I posted some pics of it side by side with the original OEM Robertshaw which I believe is the
> original one installed in the coach:
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/403-radiator-hose-replacement/p58793-2015-07-28-183246.html
>
> I also read, and just going by the feedback, that there is a lookalike sold under the Mr. Gasket brand that may be a cheaper version of it made in
> China, and the quality is questionable. I haven't been able to verify if the one from FlowKooler is made in the USA or not, but they are marketing it
> under the Robertshaw brand, so I'm good with that.
>
> Hope this may help others faced with this task.
>
> Chris
> --
> Chris S. -
> 77 Kingsley mostly OEM -
> S.E. Michigan
>
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> GMCnet mailing list
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| Re: [GMCnet] Best thermostat for the 403: 195 or 180? [message #283541 is a reply to message #283537] |
Thu, 30 July 2015 13:05 |
lw8000
Messages: 201
Registered: July 2012
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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emerystora wrote on Thu, 30 July 2015 11:44There never was an OEM Robertshaw. The original GM thermostat had a flapper valve that had to be oriented properly when installed.
Interesting to know. For some reason I thought that was the OEM one, and when I pulled the one we had in our coach, I noticed it has "GM" and a number stamped on it. Sounds like this one should hopefully hold up though, thanks for the info!
Chris S. -
77 Kingsley, 3.70 FD, mostly OEM -
S.E. Michigan
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| Re: Best thermostat for the 403: 195 or 180? [message #283563 is a reply to message #282829] |
Thu, 30 July 2015 18:56 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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Stant also makes a premium SuperStat. I have one in my Tahoe and it seems pretty stable. Don't know if it behaves in the Olds. More a tapered pintle design for more accurate control is what they say
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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