i recently installed a fast 90/90 and i plan on purchasing a 98mm lid, 85mm maf and a 180 degree thermo. i going to get then car retuned after i get these parts. so my question is, will i see a gain out of the thermostat? i know its kind of a odd question i know. but does anyone know if a 180 thermo give any gains

 

No....but possibly on someones dyno they will see .01 hp gain. Don't believe claims of gains from a t-stat swap. Yes, a cooler engine might be a little stronger, but it needs to run at operating temp (190-210*F or so) to run as designed.

So if someone does a dyno run at 210*F...then lets it cool down and does a run at 175*F...yea, it might show a tiny bit more power. But who knows because theres no way two back to back dyno runs can ever be identical, there's dyno error also. All these jackass companies like K&N will do ten dyno runs, wait till they see an increase in HP, then they post that dyno run as a gain because of their bullshit product.

I have a 160 t-stat and fans tuned to come on earlier....I have a very very cool running engine, in comparison to most LSx engines. But when I drive around with a scanner I run between 190-200 all the time.

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a hot engine makes for good emissions..........a cool engine makes for good power........IMO

 

Actually an engine will make less power if it is not up to temp. So you dont want it *too* cool. I would go with a stock replacement. It's all ~ anyway.

 

You also don't need to buy one, for less than $1 you can modify it to open at any temp (Link). Also, the gain is not in the temp but rather to potential to allow additional timing without KR. I wouldn't go too cool though, you want motor 180 or above and oil over 200. For 180, I would shoot for around a 0.050" shim.

 

What about if you have higher compression, do you then need a cooler thermostat? Wont it run hotter?

 

BTW.....you do know that the stock stat is 187.........so not much to swap in a 180