Update:

Today I tackled the new thermostat install.

My temp gauge only really goes to around quater when warm and the fans only ever kicked in once.

So I was thinking maybe the stat was staying open and causing it to sit cooler....

So ordered from Graham Goode a 4x4 stat and o ring and bought myself some new spanners, the ratchet type but on a normal spanner... if that makes sense..

Anyway, removed the bolts, was tight but not silly, my unit was not leaking etc so wanted to keep it this way.

I didnt bother removing the hose from the stat housing and just undone the bolts, a little knock on the head and it came off, bit of fluid came out. I had a pair of plyers and pulled on the old stat and this fell out.

This is the photos of the two states together









I tested the new stat before I fitted just to be sure, and I tested the old stat when I removed... both worked fine

Anyway, put the new one in, I questioned where the o ring went and after putting it on top of the thermostat and between the housing top, did everything backup and no leaks. I later found out the o ring was not for this part...but as it is not leaking... I am going to leave it in.

So undone the bleed valve on top of the housing, took the cap off the header tank and started the engine, I squeezed the inlet and outlet for the rad and put some more coolent in the tank. I undon the bleed valve a bit more until only water was coming through. Nipped this backup and let the car get to full temp.

This took 30 minutes!!! My car is a beast when it comes to keeping itself cool. I was concerned about it to start with but I left it and left it ticking over until it eventually got to halfway and the fans kicked in. No water leaks, no smoke, no hot smell, nothing!! I am very impressed with how well this engine keeps itself cool. Not once have I had it heating up. The fans have only came on once before!

So after the fans kicked in I squeezed everything again, no air in the system, and the fans took the temps back down to quater on the temp gauge.

So overall... I am very impressed with this car. Muy old car was constantly heating up, fans kicking in, cooling down, heating up etc. This car will deal with traffic, never heats up when giving it the beans... its like she is egging you on to drive her harder and harder!!!

I know all the bits on this car have been assembled to improve this kind of thing which is great.

I also am confident she has plenty of antifreeze in her too for the winter which is nice, another tick off my list.

I spoke to a mate who works in the trade and asked to get me some Fuch Titan Pro s 10w50 which he said he had, went to collect and it was 5w40 so left it. Need to get some in at some point and change the oil.

Car is filthy again, farmers around this area are taking the piss with the dirt on the road. Car is a handful as well, third gear spins on part throttle so have to go careful. But enjoying her none the less and happy now I know sitting on quater is right for the car