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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 06:17 PM
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Default WTF thermostat
I go to autozone today and pick up a replacement t-stat for my 98' camaro (with an 00' vette motor)

Here is the replacement, it looks like a normal tstat, one unit:




I pull out the housing and the spring pops out of the housing. It looks like the tstat is built in to the housing and there is no way i can install what i bought.




What's going on here? Help would be appreciated!
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 06:25 PM
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ITs a whole unit. Did you tell them its for the vette motor? Some of the gen 3 truck motors have them. Tell them you need the whole unit water neck and everything
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 06:26 PM
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yeah, i got the t-stat for the vette motor.
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 06:27 PM
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that doesnt sound right. you should be able to replace just the t-stat without having to replace the neck and the housing.
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 06:33 PM
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nope. You must have used the water pump from the original motor in 98
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 06:36 PM
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First, your second photo has the thermostat missing. Second, does the new one have tabs on it? If so, itmay be designed to fit into the original housing.
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 06:42 PM
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he said the spring and all popped out.
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 06:43 PM
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If I were you Id try to get a waterneck for a vette or GTO. LS1 tstats are like 20 dollars more expensive due to having the housing built in
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 06:46 PM
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ok, so what do i need to buy? 98' ls1 t-stat?
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 06:50 PM
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yes you either need the 98 camaro tstat, or the right waterneck to go with your current tsat you bought for the vette
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 07:01 PM
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thanks guys
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 07:49 PM
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The knowlege base here is getting pretty pathetic. The t-stat they sold you is for a 04 and newer water pump. Separate housing and t-stat. Even if you got the housing for it it will not work in 03 and older water pumps. 97-03 water pumps used the housing and t-stat, all one piece design. Likewise it will not work in a 04 and newer waterpump. The water pumps will interchange between any year gen 3 engine so it is best to know the year water pump you are purchasing a t-stat for. For the older style, Oreillys has them under a Murray brand 160* Pt# 37960, 180* Pt# 37980 and 187* Pt# 37987.
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 08:04 PM
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well boys we can hang it up. Just pm 2xLS1 from now on.
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 08:27 PM
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Okay problem, I went back to the parts store. 98-02 LS1 motors all have the same part number, even the 05 GTO and 05 vettes (6 liter) had the same part number. This was pepboys.

what do i need to buy? or was pepboys just wrong?
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 09:03 PM
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the LS2 pump is very similar to the LS1 but with a shorter pulley on it, so they use the same t-stat housing. or you can get a performace one from one of the sponsors here, like the WS6Store
Last edited by trans_am7935; Apr 26, 2011 at 11:59 PM.
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Whiteaw57
well boys we can hang it up. Just pm 2xLS1 from now on.
That made me LOL, great quote.
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 09:19 PM
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Okay, problem solved. I went to autozone and they got me the correct part. It's a t-stat built in to a housing and it was $21 dollars. Pepboys parts catalog is WRONG, to anyone going to pepboys for the old style t-stat. Don't go there.

Here is the correct part:

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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 09:30 PM
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did you get a 180...160....or the stock 187?
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 09:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Whiteaw57
well boys we can hang it up. Just pm 2xLS1 from now on.
How about just quit giving wrong advise.
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by sjsingle1
did you get a 180...160....or the stock 187?
stock temp. whatever that is
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