I was running my 1944 GPW for several years,
when last year I had problems with stalling
engine and difficult starting...
After I eliminated all likely causes (fuel, carb,
distrib. filter, pump, coil, plugs etc.) I decided to
check compression and eventually changed the
head gasket, even if it seemed O.K......
(as a side note: it was the condenser in the end !)
...and while dismantling the head, noted that
there was NO THERMOSTAT installed at all.
The engine was a perfect runner for 5 years in
my hands and the previous owner did travel several
thousand miles with the engine never touched.
I did not have a spare thermostat and put it back
together without one and the engine has since
done it's job without trouble.
SO, this engine has been running for at least the
past 15 years without a thermostat. It has had no
problem running cold or hot, the operating cooling
water temperature was always well below 180 deg.
and as several felllow enthusiasts told me it is one
of the smoothest running jeep engines they have
come accross, I just wonder what it matters if there
is no thermostat installed.
Worthwhile noting that the exhaust manifold also
did NOT have the pre-heating valve. I , however,
changed that last year for a NOS one with the
valve flap in operating order.
O.K., I know what the thermostat is there for and I am
familiar with the theory of engine thermics and its
influence on wear and tear and operations.....
But this engine is a perfect runner and the Jeep is
one of the fastest around (70 mls no prop and good
accelerating ). Over the years I did note any wear and
tear and had no operating problems.
... now explain t h i s !
Lars-Uwe Rudek
MVPA # 14836
MVT # 8119
T.E.A.M. # 2
<RUDEK@SHH-HAMBURG.DE>
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