Formula350

iTrader: (3)

Didn't read the whole thread past my post I see. Otherwise you'd have read what Caprice said.

Now, I'm not saying Caprice was agreeing with me totally, as I'm clearly the one he's implying is an ignorant kid (which I'm neither, and it's odd he never mentions his age, funny huh?). And I'm in no way implying that a lower TStat is going to provide 1000hp, or even 20hp, but in conjunction with other mods it will help quite a bit. I have yet to install my 160, but since I anticipated installing one I preset my fans to turn on lower (which clearly wasn't low enough according to Tony Shephard, he glanced over it) and with them turning on @ 180F and 190F respectively, my running temp is down to 192-198F. Typical LT1s run 225-235F, so just doing fans dropped the temp, which is only part of the mod in installing a lower TStat. So with that, had I installed the 160, my temps would be much lower. Now please (myltwon) don't try to tell me that a TStat won't lower your temps any, it's just not true. Yea, if the fans don't turn on, it'll run just as hot as a stock Tstat or even a 195.

Do the mod, or don't do the mod, it all doesn't matter to me. Similarly, believe me or not, makes little difference on my side. If running a hot motor, having hot air in it and hot fuel as well was of little consequence, then drag racers wouldn't ice down their motors between runs. Nor would they specifically make a fuel cooler that pumps your fuel through a canister that you can put dry ice in.

myltwon

iTrader: (1)

we were talking about installing a thermo, resetting the fan settings was not part of the original discussion, the point you were trying make was based soley on the thermostat itself

I was never trying to make the point that a 160 thermo will make or break a car, just saying it's not a real mod like many people new to car modding mistake it for. yes it ALLOWS the car to operate cooler but that is in conjunction with pcm tuning

myltwon

iTrader: (1)

I was posting incomplete thoughts at the time, had it been earlier in the day I would've better explained myself

what I meant is with the factory fan settings the stock thermostat is better suited, and with the factory fan settings a 160 thermo does nothing but prolong the warmup of the car (not by any great means whatsoever). the motor will continue to increase in heat once the thermo opens up at the same rate no matter what thermostat you have installed until the fans turn on

with coinciding pcm tuning you can reap whatever benefits a 160 thermo has to offer

Formula350

iTrader: (3)

Then I apologize as I was under the impression it was common knowledge for vehicles with computer controlled fans (or even sensor controlled) to adjust them relative to the TStat temp being used. With that being said, I was basing my discussion around them being a hand-in-hand mod.

myltwon

iTrader: (1)

no problems here this is why I hate posting late at night I tend to read and write at about half of what I'm usually capable of lol

Formula350

iTrader: (3)

Late, pff It's only 11pm at the latest in the US lol

myltwon

iTrader: (1)

ah I wake up earlier as **** and come on here after I get out around 10 so I'm pretty fried at 12 lol

97lt1camaro

iTrader: (3)

When i switched thermostats and the tuned pcm for the thermostat i noticed a big difference in temp at the track while sitting in staging. Otherwise the difference in the city and highway wasnt all that much.

Formula350

iTrader: (3)

Assuming you're making back to back runs, but are sitting in the staging lane, it's not much different than city driving. Light to light might be longer in city, but you make that up by doing a 1/4mi @ WOT.

BruceBufferTA

iTrader: (1)

With my 160 stat the car never registers over 165ish even in hot temps.

sdm1234

iTrader: (8)

A while back, I read somewhere that some guy tried to prove this T-stat myth by lowering intake charge temps. He did this by taking an LT1 motor and doing consecutive dyno pulls on the factory t-stat: one pull with factory equipment, and one pull with the intake freezing with dry ice. I don't remember any specifics, but the final conclusion was no gain in horsepower. I wish I had a link. Maybe someone can find it with Google.

baylove

iTrader: (35)

i run a 160 with the fans tuned to come on sooner also a manual fan switch

transamrebel

iTrader: (2)

check your coolant level, if all of a sudden u lose heat the level is probably too low, happens all the time

COMNBYU

My two cents, every LT1 Ive ever had likes to run extremely hot period. Unless you force the engine to run cooler (t-stat, fans, pump, etc.) it will operate anywhere from 180 to what looks like 240-250 to me. My '96 in avatar when stock would run mid 13s @ 160* or below, and as slow as 14.4 @ 200*+ so whoever doesnt believe a cooler running engine runs faster is retarded. Never been impressed with "reverse cooling".

I know Im bringing this back from the dead...but I just got a '94 Z....anybody have the Stant part # for a 160 stat??

z2877

Theres no negative effects of a 160 deg thermostat. It will keep the car cooler. A cooler running car will make more power. You dont need a tune for a cooler thermostat. And to Ltwon who said "all it does is take the car longer to warm up" hahaa one of the dumbest things ive ever heard.

Jeffthedog

Well guys. The guy is right when he says the engine will never get to operating Temp with 160. I just bought 93 transam, and ran 160 for 3 months. ( Cooler months tho) and I think I damaged engine ticks now and might have rod knock. I put 180 in and it runs better.engine spins nice. I think lt1 really runs better in hot 190-200 range. But in hot summer months engine might need 160 just to keep it at 190

ElkySS

iTrader: (6)

Thanks for bringing back a 5 year old thread. But while we are on the subject, the main reason I have a 160 is to lower the temp of the heads to avoid detonation on an above stock compression motor. Don't know if its true or not but it makes sense to me.

ACE1252

With the stock 180* stat and a stock LT1, at a steady state cruise of ~60mph, the engine temp will hang around 190*.

Ever since my cam swap, my overall temp was around 200* at cruise. Ran that for a couple of years until I put in a 160* stat. My temps dropped to around 180* for steady state cruise. One of the best things I've ever done to the car.

To my understanding, a 160* stat will not hurt anything but emissions.

There is no way that a 160* stat will cause rod knock.....unless maybe it fails closed and you overheat the engine in a bad way.

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

How cold is "colder months"?