Couldn't find this posted. '88 dl. ea82. Drive it for about 5 minutes temp gauge goes right to red and them therm opens and it drops and runs a little over 3/4 to the red line. Assume it just has a t-stat that is too hot. I read 180 seems to normal? As i do not know what the last owner put in, but know he had cooling probs., could someone let me know what thew best t-stat would be going into spring/summer in New York?

Sounds like the thermostat is stuffed. Many people seem to recomend oem ones, i cant say ive had a problem with others(yet). 180F should be fine.

Ok. What exactly means "stuffed"?

ie you need to replace it

sounds almost like my rx last night. it was trying to over heat and fill the resivior. then i pulled the tstat out. temp didnt sky rocket and the fluid stayed in the engine and radiator. sticky tstat i guess, i just need to flush the system today and prey that fixes all the issues.

It was strange. I got home last night and squeezed the radiator hose and it was tight like the t-stat wasn't open! The car had plenty of heat though. Does the fan kick on at a certain temp, and could that be dropping the temp w/o the t-stat opening? But then I would get no heat right? I guess I will start with the new t-stat.