Paul, a thermostat is employed to maintain a MINIMUM operating temperature. The engine components are sized to run in a given temperature range. Anything less and the wear rate goes up, while the performance suffers. Keeping the temp down is the job of the radiator.

Lynne l have pleasure in informing every one that my radiator problems are over, the stripping/cleaning of my radiator worked. As I said in yesterdays post the fact I was testing for exhaust gases in the coolant and the coolant level equalised itself while I had the radiator cap off seems to have done the trick, had a fuel starvation problem in the run today but I will address that tomorrow. I don't have a full thermostat in my Austin Champ but the partial thermostat keeps up the pressure in the system so I thought maybe that would make a difference but in the case of the C8 no, worth a thought. Thanks every one for their input.
Paul

Hi all and have been on a short run with the C8 and all is well with everything, I had installed a 12v fuel pump but it had caused problems with to much fuel going into the carby so I re-installed the manual pump. The manual pump couldn't draw enough fuel past the 12v pump (I had left in place) so I had fuel starvation and all the pops and back fires that go with it, simple answer take the 12v pump out and all is well. C8 goes well and I will take it out again today just to make sure.
Again thanks to all
Paul