stock thermostat
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Miami, FL
stock thermostat What temp is the stock thermo? I see 160 is a popular mod but my dad says I shouldn't go below 185. Are there any adverse effects a 160 thermo can have if I live in FL and plan to move to NC or Chicago after a year? Thanks.
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Try a search on this. There are differing opinions on the 160 stat. Personally, after trying quite a few different running temps, I like to stick with the stock unit.
The stock stat is actually stamped as "86C" on the unit, which would be a 186*F temp. GM claims it begins to open between 177-184*F. It is fully open by 190-195. The Hypertech 180 maintains the same running temps as a stock unit (I have tested this), so don't waste your money buying that one. It's called a "180" but that is only the temp it begins to open at, it's not fully open till 190+. No matter how cool the weather was at steady low rpm cruise, or how low I set the fans, neither the Hypertech 180 or the stock 186 unit ever let my running temps drop below 190-192.
These days I just use a stock stat and set the fans to maintain a cycling range of 194-204. That temp range has given me the best overall results on a stock to medium modded LS1. If you are running much higher compression, boost, or a lot of extra timing, you might want to run cooler.
The stock stat is actually stamped as "86C" on the unit, which would be a 186*F temp. GM claims it begins to open between 177-184*F. It is fully open by 190-195. The Hypertech 180 maintains the same running temps as a stock unit (I have tested this), so don't waste your money buying that one. It's called a "180" but that is only the temp it begins to open at, it's not fully open till 190+. No matter how cool the weather was at steady low rpm cruise, or how low I set the fans, neither the Hypertech 180 or the stock 186 unit ever let my running temps drop below 190-192.
These days I just use a stock stat and set the fans to maintain a cycling range of 194-204. That temp range has given me the best overall results on a stock to medium modded LS1. If you are running much higher compression, boost, or a lot of extra timing, you might want to run cooler.
