Making a vent hole in the NAPA 180 Thermo ???

[cfiiman]

Can some of you elaborate on the vent hole I understand it is to aid in releasing trapped air but I'd like to "understand" it more. I looked for a diagram or write up but can't find anything on it specific to gen 1's and in general terms, either people recommend it or don't. Seems you are in either one of those camps. It seems like a very good thing to do to avoid hot spots and aid in purging air before the thermo opens, but I would like to make sure I drill it in the perfect place if I do it so a diagram or picture would help, my manual doesn't have a closeup showing it either but as a helpful member on the board told me in another post it does say that the stock one definitely has one. Knowing this I think it would be best to modify the NAPA one I got from Tator's. I'm assuming you just put it in the aluminum housing, but want to make sure

a) I definately should do it ( I mean once all the air is purged out by burping the system, do you really need the vent hole?)
b) I put it in the right place

I only want to do this job once, and not have to open it back up if I do it wrong so any help is much appreciated. By the way can someone explain to me how the failing to open works? I'm having a hard time getting my head around it b/c when they are "cold" they are closed and only open when they warm up, so how does it fail to the open position and stay open even though it cools back down????

 

[sssammm]

I did this job on my Cobra, worked a treat, just drilled a hole in the seat at the side

sam

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

I don't know if it's that big of deal. After the engine heats up and cools down the air will be in the upper hose and the stat will be closed forcing the air to go one way when burped. I've never mastered the art of burping while hot. I burp cold. I just keep an eye on the fluid for a few days after flushing. But I always check my fluid anyway.

 

[AZTVR]

My input would to be to ask Chuck Tator whether a hole needs to be drilled in the thermostat. My research led me to NOT drill a hole. I do not remember specifics of how I reached that conclusion. Definitely, this type of thermostat is totally different from the type that people usually associate drilling a hole in.

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

I have a Napa 180* in my car. I had not heard about drilling a hole into them until this thread. The t-stat has been in for a couple years and I'm 100% happy with it.

 

[99 R/T 10]

PM AB, he did a wirte up about this a while back. It seemed to work very well for his situation.

 

[bluesrt]

It wont hurt..drill it at 12 clock...it just keeps the guage from movin around a bit

 

[cfiiman]

Thanks guys, this is the first chance I've had to respond, I did ask Chuck Tator and he said absolutely NOT to drill a hole so I'm not going to, hope this helps anyone searching in the future like I was, thanks for all the replies.