I don`t agree w/ u on that statement. try taking the thermostat completely out and see. I had an approx. 600 horse 406 sbc, it would run hot w/o one. I made some of the washer type inserts to replace the stat, after experimenting w/ diff size holes in it , I wound up w/ (if I remember right), a 5/8 hole in it. Any bigger "more flow" it would heat up, any smaller (less flow), it would heat up. You are wrong on this one.