Water pump questions

[Turbo4whl]

Where do I drill the hole in the thermostat? Is 1/8” too big?

1/8" is good. Look first before you drill the hole. Some stats have a notch in the center stopper, (V shape).

Drill the hole in the flat part of the steel.

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[farm truck]

If you buy a high flow thermostat, the ones I’ve used already have the bleed hole in them. They are usually in the aftermarket parts area in the store, or you can get them from Summit, Jegs, etc.

Also, if you have a relatively stock engine application, i suggest using a 195 degree thermostat, not a 180 or a 160. Street engines work much better and stay healthier running at 195-200 (or even up to about 220) .
Also, remember that a low temp thermostat will not fix an inadequate cooling system. The best it can do is to delay the overheating a few minutes. A squarebody with a good radiator, water pump, and the stock steel fan and thermostatic fan clutch has a lot of cooling capacity. Just makes sure it’s all working as designed.

Pretty good advice on the thermostat temp. I went down that rabbit hole once!

 

[rusted nuts]

I do not think it is stock. It’s worn out with less than ideal oil pressure, I was told to run 20w50 with rislone zinc additive to help with that now I get 18lbs hot idle 50 cold 28 running 2200 rpm down highway, but has tons of power and will rev to 6500 rpm with a touch of the gas.

It will run forever with that much oil press

 

[Albrigap]

A lack of a thermostat will cause overheating.
The water circulates so fast it does not have time to pickup the heat and carry it away.
We are in cold winter country and run 195 thermostats year around.
An engine must be up to temperature to be efficient and to run right.

 

[Rusty Nail]

Yes. Theromstat temperature is directly related to the fuel mixture quality/atomization. I believe the GM rating is 195 OR it will run rich, like the choke is on -all the time. Low temperature thermostats cost fuel mileage.
Long water pumps coincide with bolt holes in cylinder heads, like Rick said.
I run 195 year round but have never ever drilled a hole in one. If it was supposed to have a hole in it then it would come out the box that way....but it didn't.
Hope this helps!

 

[mibars]

Bumping the thread. I have a factory shroud. What's the procedure on water pump removal, or more precisely on fan removal? Looks like to get the fan out I need to remove shroud, but to remove shroud there should be no fan in the way What's the correct way of doing it without poking a hole in a radiator?

Also I've noticed that top and bottom part of the should looks like stapled together. Are these staples the only thing holding the shroud together? That may seem like the easiest, but a bit odd way to do it

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

Bumping the thread. I have a factory shroud. What's the procedure on water pump removal, or more precisely on fan removal? Looks like to get the fan out I need to remove shroud, but to remove shroud there should be no fan in the way What's the correct way of doing it without poking a hole in a radiator?

Also I've noticed that top and bottom part of the should looks like stapled together. Are these staples the only thing holding the shroud together? That may seem like the easiest, but a bit odd way to do it

The square body shroud is stapled together. Dad modified the ones on our Burbs with 1/4"-20 bolts, washers and nuts, 3 per side. This way, you can take the top half off, and access the fan and water pump much more easily. But you will have to drill the appropriate sized holes for whatever bolts you use....
The OBS trucks have bolts and speed nuts to hold the two halves together, and it makes it much easier to replace the water pump and hoses that way.