Hi all,

We (I?) had a problem with our 245 V8 overheating on the way up to our son's college graduation the weekend before last (but we made it!). The day wasn't particularly warm, and the car had been fine up until then--and since. On the way back we averaged around 64mph and almost 24mpg--and the temp gauge was rock steady.

I've checked coolant level and made sure the AC condenser and radiator aren't obstructed, and the air diverter in the air dam is still where it should be. Also, the electric fan comes on when it should temperature-wise, also when the AC is "on." FWIW, I had done a 134 conversion to the AC a few weeks earlier, but as I mentioned the car has been fine except for that one time--also, I'm not sure that running the AC when on the freeway at 65 mph would add that much of a heat load to the radiator.

As near as I can figure, I have a thermostat that happened to "stick" once (so far), so I'm planning on replacing it this weekend. IIRC, the current stat is a Stant OEM replacement (192* or 195*?). I've been thinking of maybe going to a Stant 180*, but have been a little concerned that it may be too low--if I could find a 185* stat I think that would be about perfect . . . .

Any experience or recommendations? Also, I'm not "married" to the Stant brand--I know there are others out there (Hypertech "powerstat," Milodon "Hi-Flow," even Steeda has one [though the PN looks like a Stant number]), but I have no experience there either. Is there a conventional wisdom on what's best?

Any ideas, suggestions, and/or recommendations--including brand and part number--would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance, and best regards!

Steve A-