What temp should my 350 be running at? It was running up to around 230-240- a 160 degree thermostat was recommended, and now my temp doesn't even register on my guage (lowest temp is 130 degrees)??!!?!? And yes, I think the guage works... At least it worked before I replaced the thermostat.

I've seen a handful of posts about 350 conversions running too hot. How about a 350 running too cold? Do they make a 180 degree thermostat? Just tossing it out there- for your input, and also to kinda bragg... Bragg because I have a problem other than the ususal, "350 running too hot!" I know it's a problem, that's why I ask...

Zipp. :fj:

u know for sure the gauge works? feel the radiator hose to see if it gets warm, yes they do make pretty much any degree thermo and 180 would be best. jiMMy

Something not working right either your old thermostat was stuck closed ore your temp. gauge or sensor is not correct

Something is not right... either your t-stat is messed up, or your gauge is wrong. either way, if you drive it, you're going to screw something up. There's no way in hell that a 350 in a cruiser will run so cool that it won't register on the gauge, unless the radiator is dipped in a frozen lake :rasta:

I wouldn't drive it until you get more normal temps...

I would have to say your gauge is broken. I have gone through two sun tune temp gauges, I had the same problem. I am currently on my third, and its starting to give me fits. Won't read for about 30 minutes...then it will jump up to 190. POS mechanical taiwan gauge. Next gauges to buy are Autometer.
One way to test the gauge is to get a metal cooking thermometer, run you cruiser with the radiator cap off, for about 15 minutes. Measure the temp, via the filler neck. I can almost gaurantee that your temp will be higher than 130 degrees.:skull:

engines have operating ranges, and well 130 is well below it and will do serious damage to the motor. Better fix something or you won't be braggin much longer. Sounds like a cheesy gauge to me, autometer's suck i;d stick with the more expensive ones, but thats just my experience with them.

Whats so bad with autometer gauges?:skull:

Must had been a bad experiance. I've never had any problem with any of my autometers in any of my vehicles.

The PO installed a nice Autometer Pro-comp memory tach in mine, and 3 sunpro "Sport":rolleyes: gauges for h2o temp, oil pressure, and voltage.

The tach wasn't mounted very well, and vibrated like crazy...still works well.

The oil pressure works OK, and the mechanical water temp gauge is dead-on, as tested by a calibrated temp probe I "borrowed" when I got out of the military.

The voltage gauge sucks. it reads about .7v low.. as long as it's above the 12 mark, I don't care.

Mine runs from 180 to 200 all the time. No fan shroud just the stock radiator.