whats seems to be a good operating range for the lt1. i have a 383 in mine with a 160 deg t-stat, wasn't sure if there is a point where its too cold.

 

Too cold, and it won't go into closed loop (or is it open loop, I get them confused). The colder the air, the more dense and better it reacts with fuel and burn. It's just you can't get a motor down that cool by conventional means. You can tune your ECM so the loop changes at a lower temp than stock. How the sensors themselves react, I don't know.

 

The hotter the motor is, the better it runs, theoretically according to VE. The optimum is having the coolest air charge possible while maintaining as much heat as the motor can take.

To answer your question, the LT1 was meant to run hotter than previous sbc. The stock temps are above 210* easily. I would say 180-200* or so is what most people like to shoot for.

 

so 160 thermostat + tune would work nice?

 

Here lately, I am convinced there is no such thing as an LT1 than runs too cool, lol.

 

That's what most people go with, yes.

 

Seems like my engine runs better when it's cooler. It just feels a little quicker right when I start it up compared to after it has had a chance to heat up all the way.

 

my WS6 never gets over 180 even in heavy traffic, stop and go it might get up to 200ish, but never past the 210 on the gauge.

 

Also, the guage reads from one of the coolest parts of the engine, the head. This is the first place the coolant goes when it leaves the radiator. Your PCM sees a different temperature because it reads from the waterpump housing.

ecksz28, it does run better cool because it's getting cooler air. There are a bunch of different factors, though. Some people even add a scoop to get more outside air into the filter.