I found this out by accident since I was changing my thermostat and got the wrong size and the FD was my only car, so I threw everything back together to run to the shop. Well I did get pleasantly surprised.

Here are my notes:

1. Takes longer to warm up

2. PFC reads 65C, but flexuates alot more than with stock thermostat.

3. car feels like it has more TQ and HP (kinda like right after it is warmed up and heat soak is not there yet)

4. I am running 13psi on stock maps and knock readings are down from 140 to 80-90. This is the weirdest part. I could only guesstimate that the engine is running cooler and/or it is running in richer mode, thus decreasing the knock.

If u have tried this I like to hear from you.

thank in advance.

 

Um its not a good idea.

Why ?Because its hard as hell to keep the car up to temp when on the highway and the thermostat offers no hinderance in performance..

If you really must.. The SCCA racers often drill 3 small holes in then thermostat so that fluid constantly passes but its not needed for street use.

 

is the concern with not being able to warm up?

I live in California where the weather is fairly mild.

Freezing temps seldom exists here.

 

I don't think it is a very good idea. There are certain conditions where you will overheat. Without the termostat you get a lot faster flow through the radiator. With low airflow (such as stuck in traffic) the water will not be held in the radiator long enough to cool. On the track or highway you will most likely be ok, but on a hot summer day in traffic it is risky.

I had a stuck thermostat in my street/strip 67 Nova so I removed it for the drive home. It was fine on the highway, but the moment I slowed down it started heating up and I had to stop. I know it is a totally different animal than the RX-7, but the same theory should apply.

 

WoW! novadan!

I think you just solved a problem that I have in my truck!

It takes forever to heat up and if I am at drive thru the f'n thing will start to over heat! Freaking autozone thermostat.

 

The t-stat is actually required in a FD. If you look at it closely the T-stat opens when warm and CLOSES the water path that recirculates water in the block when the t-stat is closed.

So if the T-stat is removed water will not go to the radiator, it will just recirculate in the block = overheating.

 

Well, I don't know if I'd go as far as to say that is your problem, there could be many other things causing you to heat up in the drive through. I just know from personal experience that not having a thermostat can cause you to overheat. The water needs to be in the radiator long enough to be cooled. That being said, I would never risk running without one in my FD. As we all know heat kills these cars.

 

Dude I know that's it! I just replaced it too, the old one was stuck closed. I bet ya that this one is stuck open. Why else would the car never heat up on the freeway? and I mean never. I was thinking that my thermosensor was out of wack. Besides this problem arised after I installed the second one.

I know this the problem, I just didn't *think* of the possibility of being stuck open and that water does not get cooled when idleing. I don't care what you say, I give you props.

 

I've seen bad temp sensors show the car not heating up even though it was. Check the one down by the oil filter.