Since I have owned my 72 350, I always thought it ran a little hotter than normal. I installed a 4 core radiator and a new clutch fan, and even experimented with a heavy duty clutch. All helped, but it seems like once the temperature went up, it took way too long to come back down.


Yesterday I decided to replace the thermostat, figuring it might not be opening all the way. The previous owner had replaced it shortly before I bought the car. When I pulled off the cover, I discovered the thermostat was a 180, but it was installed upside down. Obviously, that couldn't help the issue. Who makes that kind of mistake?

 

More people than you think make that mistake.

 

I would see it fairly regularly when I was a full time wrench many moons ago when people actually could find their thermostats. That and drum brake shoes on bass ackwards.

 

The brake shoes I can understand because it is a little more confusing. In fact, I think it was Pontiac in the late 60s or early 70s actually had a misprint in the Service Manual, and they pictured the shoes installed backwards in relation to the front of the car.