Thermostat in a 604

[mqdirtracer57]

Do I need to keep it in there or use a restrictor?

[Egoracing]

A restrictor is a 30+ year old crutch for bad water pumps. If you are using a good pump do not put anything in the neck. If you need it to get the car warm replace the stock T stat with a fail open racing unit.

[mqdirtracer57]

I am using and Edlebrock circle track pump #8817 with a restrictor...i guess i will take the restrictor out and put a t-stat in its place

[CC57]

Hopefully a reply that will give you a bit of confidence and comfort that you're not about to have an issue with a thermostat...

In my Dirt Mod, I was running on Alky/Methanol, which is notoriously hard to warm up.

So I ran a 165 degree fail safe in it. The stat helped tremendously in bringing the engine's operating termperature up to a good range.

And I never, in the 3 seasons I had the car, experienced a thermostat or cooling related problem