Is This How Far A Thermostat Is Supposed To Open? (pics)

In my experience the single-belt cars should have been recalled and converted by the factory.

It looks like you know what you're doing but running straight distilled water does likely result in some corrosion that you wouldn't get with a glycol blend.

 

Just for entertainment purposes here is some info. from the technical manual for my Saab:

Thermostat opening temperature: 92 +1/-2 (198 +1/-4F)

System boiling point: 131 (268F)

Expansion tank pressure valve opening pressure: 1.4~1.5 Bar (around 21 psi)

 

I don't have a part number, but Dennis McCann at sells two t-stats for 308. A $260 dollar OEM and a $63 Behr. I bought the $63 version and I a happy so far.

 

thanks brian. i inadvertanly forgot to mention, i have an '87 328.
don't suppose they use the same stat?

 

Bill,
I see the 308 "termostato" as part number 109671. Do you have a 328 parts book to compare with? My good friend, Mr. Jenkins appears to not have the 328 parts book on line. I would bet they are the same, but since I'd be betting with your money, I don't really lose.

OK, I'm waiting for a plane in Seattle with nothing exciting to do and I have Internet access, what the heck.

Dennis McCann lists that parts as "THERMOSTAT, 208/308/308QV/MONDIAL/MONDIAL 8 (OLD # 105191)(BEHR)." Hmmm. Doesn't mention 328.

T Rutland shows all the above plus Testarossa and 288 GTO for that part number, but no 328.

Found it: They do show the 328 part as 128991, and at $177 it is nearly $100 less than the 308 version. Dennis McCann lists that part number as also fitting the F40, and doesn't appear to list a Behr or low price alternative (but is a bit cheaper).

OK, I want to change my bet. I think the 308 and 328 'stats are different. And it looks like the 328 OEM vs. OEM is way cheaper.

(Oh, and I like this: T Rutland's web page is trutlands.com. If you just put in trutland.com you get directed to Ricambi America's page. Nice one, guys!)

 

10-4 good buddy...
the 308 is p/n # 109671, the 328 is p/n # 128991.
the parts illustrations are identical in both parts manuals.
high priced mark-up i guess from the 308 to 328, but can't
confirm parts source of either model.
thanks brian.
any other bright lads care to comment?

 

I just bought one from GT Car parts about $46 with gaskets.
The car tends to run hot, esp. in traffic so I'm hoping this helps
(I run the antifreeze about 25%-75% distilled water)

I'll pop old & new in water at the same time & see what happens.

 

www.dinoparts.com ( Germany ) offers a thermostat for the 308 and they say 'it's manufactured according to original specifications'.
I didn't try it, but if that's true, EUR 19,-- are a bargain.

http://www.dinoparts.de/content.php?sID=ffd94fb12bbd830808bcd4a20dae78a8&tpl=shop&mID=-342&fID=4&kID=346&cur=EUR&lng=en

Best Regards from Germany

Martin

 

I would say so doc.....The higher pressure increases the boiling point.

 

I doubt Ferrar made the thermostat anyway...they sourced it from the cheapest vendor at the time...

 

I took the Mondial thermostat down to NAPA and had them match it up with one that is made by Stant. $10. Then I took it home and drilled the tiny bleed hole in the edge that the Ferrari OEM ones have. Now it's a $200 thermostat. Works just fine. Paying $200 for a freakin' thermostat is ridiculous.

Birdman

 

Yeah, but you're going to have to live with yourself knowing that your thermostat didn't come in a yellow box with lots of black horseys on it. Good luck.

 

is there an outside chance you remember the correct stant p/n?

 

No, but I'll see if I can dig it up.

This afternoon I dug out an old "authentic" Ferrari thermostat from the Mondial's coolant hose replacement adventure, and one of the stant thermostats I bought (I bought a couple different temperatures to play with) and put them both in hot water. They both opened the same. The Ferrari one opened a tad more, so the secondary valve at the bottom extended about 1 mm more. The Ferrari had a slightly wider hole (although the same diameter of the thermostat itself) and of course the tiny bleed hole which is unique to the Ferrari thermostats.

What I'm saying is that they are functionally the same. I can't see how the $200 Ferrari thermostat works any differently than a Stant from NAPA.

Unfortunately, there is no part number stamped on the stant. It just says "54 mm USA" on the side and "B4 195" (195 degrees, not sure what B4 is) on the disk on the bottom. I'll see if I can find the box it came in.

I would be interested to get my hands on the part number of the Behr replacement just to compare it as well. Anyone got that number?

Birdman

 

After much internet searching and phone calling, I finally tracked down the U.S. Behr division (their german website is typical....lots of information about the company and absolutely nothing about the products.) I got to THE guy in the USA who knows everything about the Behr thermostat line and told him I have a 308. He is going to get back to me on the right thermostat. According to him, ALL the Ferrari thermostats of past and present come from Behr Thermotronic Italia, the Italian division of Behr, and according to him, the Ferrari branded ones are the SAME thermostats as Behr because they are made by Behr--put in a pretty yellow box.

He is going to get me the information and I may try to see if I can do a group buy and get a bunch of them cheap. Stand by.

Birdman

 

Yep...I found the box. It's amazing the crap I never throw out.

"Stant Superstat #45379 195 degree F/90 degree C Thermostat" is what it says on the box.

Birdman

 

wow.. this is good.
we need more tight-wads like you!

 

p.s.
i presume you made your own gaskets?
manila folder no doubt?

 

I find this very difficult to believe as the last 5-10 thermostats that I purchased from Ferrari, including one purchased a month ago were made by Savana...However, the "one-piece" self-contained units, as fitted on the BBi's, etc. are indeed made by Behr. Come to think of it, in 25 years of servicing on these cars, I've never seen "Behr" on a thermostat. That's not to say that Behr doesn't make good products, they do...

I guess the question in my mind is "do you really want to substitute a "close match" thermostat that "almost opens as much as the OE unit, that almost has the same i.d." (which translates into lower volume of coolant flow), to save some money....knowing that the cooling systems on most Ferrari's are marginal at best? With 1,000's of threads on my car overheats, I can't seem to bleed her, the overflow tank continues to leak on the ground...and on and on. When one consider's what an engine or headgasket costs for these cars, I'm just not willing to gamble with a "close" match.

An exact match, at a lower price....sure! Sign me up...

Regards,
David

 

David,
I hear ya...I'm researching! I only know what the Behr guy told me, but I expect he doesn't know every thermostat Ferrari ever used in the past, and maybe they only made the thermostats for some years?

I just pulled out that OEM Ferrari thermostat again and looked carefully...it's says "SAVAHA" (Not Savana") on it...definitely not a Behr unless they make Savaha! It also has a part #: 9.10.358.00

More research!

Birdman