00transamnh

iTrader: (1)

ARE YOU KIDDING ME

I was gonna pick up a thermostat for my t/a but when i began to look around everyone was asking 60$ for the damn things.... what kind of **** is that... i just picked up a thermostat for my winter car for litterally 8$ at VIP

how about everyone stops ripping off us f-body guys

Which brings me to my next point. I should just buy a mustang and mod the crap out of it. You can buy parts for those damn things at a dime a dozen. blah!

jimmy 2 Times

iTrader: (18)

i believe they are 60 because they include the housing

blkZ28spt

Don't bother. When you get a chance (basic or dyno tune, or buy your own software) lower the fan activation temps to match the stock thermo. Or install a fan activation switch.

tbick

iTrader: (28)

i have a water temp. gauge since the factory one doesnt work, and im thinking about getting the slp manual fan switch, would it still be good to get a 180 degree thermostat or no? i really dont want to pay that much money for a thermostat, unless it really help.

blkZ28spt

I'd stick to the fan switch and/or a reprogramming of the computer.

Muerte_X

iTrader: (1)

They're so much because the housing is part of it.

Just go to autozone, I picked up a 160 hypertech there for 30 bucks. Still a lot, but better than 60.

618HAWK

iTrader: (361)

I have seen a mod in the past to shim the center of the stat which will change the opening point. Dont recall the full details, someone else might be able to chime in.

Order 66

New Stang stuff isnt that much cheaper. The T stat on the LS1 also includes the housing.

DrkPhx

iTrader: (15)

Correct. The T-stat mod is one of the first free mods done for the LS1. You have to disassemble the housing, put the small shim in and reassemble. I did that and it worked perfect on my 98 t-stat. I bought a new t-stat and it was slightly different than the 98 version.

jimmyblue

iTrader: (11)

Note that later models' thermostat doesn't seem to be
the same; I tried that "free mod" and ended up with a
lower, but hardly at all controlled coolant temp.

Save your dough, just get the fans set to give the stock
thermostat the authority it needs, and tune for 194F
unless you are making monstrous power / heat.

chewy99ws6

iTrader: (8)

I bought mine from summit and it was about 40, my car ran at about 179 to 182, when I installed the 160 my temps dropped to 162 to 169, as for the factory water temp gauge POS, I have a gauge on my A-pillar. To me it was worth the money.

blkZ28spt

You don't want your LS1 to run at 162-169*.

00transamnh

iTrader: (1)

His thermostat may say 162-169 but realistically hes prolly running around 180

GR33N GoblinM6

iTrader: (14)

when i bought my car recently.. i noticed my gauge reads about 170* all the time.. i looked and saw an aftermarket thermo housing, so im assuming some one put in a 160* thermo..

why dont you want the car to be in the 160's?? just wanted to know

JB151

iTrader: (3)

That's pretty lean.

BlackHawk T/A

iTrader: (3)

Wish I could find the numerous other threads on this...

Lubrication is one reason...power is another...you make more power (efficiency) with a hotter head, not colder. Heat = energy.

Muerte_X

iTrader: (1)

My car went 2 tenths faster consistantly after I replaced my thermostat with a 160º. The original thermostat wasn't opening all the way when I replaced it though. It wouldn't overheat, just ran a little bit hotter than usual.

But whatever works for you, if there wasn't some benefit to running the stock one over a 160º, it woudln't be argued so much.

BlackHawk T/A

iTrader: (3)

Back to back dyno runs and track passes have proven the LS1 gains power when it gets hot...

It's simple. Cold Air + Hot Chambers = Power.

Just lower your fan settings.

hurley711

iTrader: (5)

$60 for a thermostat does sound crazy.....but then again isn't $90-$100 crazy for a molded piece of plastic? Yep but we all buy aftermarket lids don't we?

WicketMike

iTrader: (13)

same here, best mod i did. Before i got the 160 stat, the car would run .1 tenth slower every run. i really pissed me off, got the 160stat and the car ran consistent