160 Thermostat
In the end, if you know what is going on there will be no issues to arise. It will cause a greater variation in engine temps. That is all. Farther north it maybe an issue.
Some will argue that cooler temps are bad for power. So what? If you are hotrodding it the temps will climb to normal. When going down the highway they will fall into the 170s 180s. My car frequently sees 187 degrees with the AC on going down the highway in summer.
In summary, it isn't going to make a huge differene unless you have a bigger radiator. So, why not get the 160 if it is about the same price and you need one anyways. It won't harm anything.
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according to their store http://www.lingenfelter.com/store/c64.html 2004 was the change over year.

THE END. When I removed the old T-stat, it measures 1 9/16" between the 2 supports on the T-stat holding the spring in place.
The width of the inlet into the water pump measured 1 7/8".
The measurement between the 2 supports on the new 160 T stat meassured 2".
This new T-stat was not going to work. GM had changed something on the water pump. Come to find out, I called ws6store from where I bought the T-stat, and they said I needed an 04-06 GTO 160 T-stat. He sales guy who had been helping knew right away the water pump had been changed recently. He said this happens about 1 in a 100 times.
It looks like GM are putting newer casted water pumps on some F-bodies.
The new T-stat should be here tomorrow, I'll know for sure if it works then.
Was able to break the new 160 one today. Tried to dremel down the supports and hole, yeahhhh, that didn't work. Broke the supports, there went the refund.
When I removed the old T-stat, it measures 1 9/16" between the 2 supports on the T-stat holding the spring in place.
The width of the inlet into the water pump measured 1 7/8".
The measurement between the 2 supports on the new 160 T stat meassured 2".
This new T-stat was not going to work. GM had changed something on the water pump. Come to find out, I called ws6store from where I bought the T-stat, and they said I needed an 04-06 GTO 160 T-stat. He sales guy who had been helping knew right away the water pump had been changed recently. He said this happens about 1 in a 100 times.
It looks like GM are putting newer casted water pumps on some F-bodies.
The new T-stat should be here tomorrow, I'll know for sure if it works then.
Was able to break the new 160 one today. Tried to dremel down the supports and hole, yeahhhh, that didn't work. Broke the supports, there went the refund.
Fan 1 on/off - 226*F/219*F
Fan 2 on/off - 234*F/227*F
In the end, if you know what is going on there will be no issues to arise. It will cause a greater variation in engine temps. That is all. Farther north it maybe an issue.
Some will argue that cooler temps are bad for power. So what? If you are hotrodding it the temps will climb to normal. When going down the highway they will fall into the 170s 180s. My car frequently sees 187 degrees with the AC on going down the highway in summer.
In summary, it isn't going to make a huge differene unless you have a bigger radiator. So, why not get the 160 if it is about the same price and you need one anyways. It won't harm anything.
My car actually made better "numbers" dynoig at 180* compared to at 160. Just a little food for thought for other people.
I'm doing a head swap pretty soon with higher compression, and already have a cam. The summers in NJ can be pretty damn hot, and the winter months the reverse, damn cold!
I'm unsure of the stock T-Stat rating, assuming 210?
I'm curious to all heads/cam guys if they are running stock t-stats or running cooler temps and for what reasons. I remember way back when reading a whole thing on how our engines are designed to run hot, and that colder temperatures may reduce performance, but I would assume at a limiting point.
Maybe a 180* t-stat would be a good thing to do during head swap vs the cooler 160*?







