I had exactly the same problem today.

I think putting cardboard in front of the rad is an excellent idea - another
Winterpeg listee, Roy O, does something similar - he uses a piece of
matching vinyl velcro'd behind the bra.

It was so cold today, my turn-signal wouldn't return from deflection, my
throttle cable got stuck starting the car, (THAT engine made a sound you
never want to hear again!), and my gas heater had no life whatsoever - no
fan - nothing.

I want to know - just what are we going to do when winter comes?

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy "Iron Igloo"

>------------------------------------
>Should I be placing a piece of cardboard in front of my radiator?  Should
>I insulate the heater hoses.  Obviously the thermostat works, I was told
>that there is no warmer thermostat available.
>------------------------------------
>
>wow - brrrr! that's cold.
>
>Why do you say it (obviously) isn't your thermostat? What if it is stuck
>open? My van exhibited almost identical symptoms last year during a cold
>snap (-10F - about as cold as it gets here)- it would get kind of warm if
>I let it idle, the temp gauge would barely register and then bottom out
>as soon as I started moving. I was dressed for ice fishing and I was still
>freezing. During subsequent observations that winter, I noted that below
>+20F the amount of heat available at the vents varied in proportion to the
>outside temp. I replaced the thermostat and it's been fine since. I don't
>think insulating the heater hoses wouldn't have much effect in terms of
>your engine temp getting up into operating range. However, the thermostat
>continuing to send coolant to the radiator when the engine is too cold
>would - and diminished heat would be a consequence of that.
>
>Of course, I'm not a mechanic - just sharing my opinion.
>
>Doug Fitz-Randolph
>Yarmouth, ME
>'90 Syncro
>