what is the stock thermostat size for a 1990 camaro 350 TPI, and what would be a good size to keep the car cooler if I decide to race
thanks!!

 

in my 305 TBI I put a 180 and its great, ive got a buddy who races some, with a 350 TPI and he runs a 180 as well.

 

I do believe the stock thermo is 195*,how ever I would not go any cooler than 180* or you will start haveing difficulties with your computer setting. Some people run the 180's with no problems,and have heard of some 160's working,but they are few and far apart. I tried a 180* but did not trust it to pass smog so I went with a high flow 195* and have had NO problems at all either with staying cool,or passing smog. "Thats just my oppinion,Icould be wrong".(dm)

T.

 

I run a 195 in the winter and a 160 in the summer. I also generally drill one or two 1/8" holes in the thermostat to act as an additional bypass. You should be able to just get by with a 195 all the time, these cars are meant to run around 210 to 220.

Martin

 

You guys need to read my article on TGO:

http://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/show...hreadid=170903

If you e-mail me for specifics, please do not use the e-mail link in the articles. My new addy is:

tplsz87@***.net

Also, it's a common fallacy that our engines do not run well with a 160 t-stat. According to my 1987 Camaro shop manual, it states that closed loop is attained when: 1) Exhaust gas temp reaches 600 degrees F and 2) Coolant temp reaches 104 degrees F (that's not a typo). This means closed loop is attained much sooner than the t-stat opens. My personal experience with this verifies what the manual says. On a cold engine, I attain closed loop within two miles of driving. Note: I have a digital exhaust gas temperature (EGT) gauge. On a cold engine, I get to 600 deg F within ONE MINUTE of startup, continues to climb, and stabilizes around 900 - 960 degrees.

 

well my car runs around stays stable around 220 degrees, i think the thermostat is a 195, so would a 180 be good to do ??
thanks

 

I've been running a 195* and had no problems even in the North Carolina heat. I would tell you what temp I run at but my temp gauge doesn't work

-Rippin

 

no problems with my 160 for about a month now

 

I ran a 160* for a few years - not problems, runs fine, but I didn't drive it much in the winter. Problem is that I didn't get much heat in the winter. Put the 195* back in Nov 02 and I got my heat back. My gas mileage also went up a little, maybe 1 mpg(but my father had also turned down the idle at the same time, it was idleing too high, so that probably helped too). It stays cool enough in the summer except for really hot days when it goes to about 220* - I don't like it to run that hot. I'll probably end up running 180* year round. Maybe a 170* (heard about it on the thirdgen.org tech article) but that may still not get enough heat in the cab in the winter???

Oh yeah, it does go into closed loop even with a 160*. Even with a 160 * the temp will go up to 200 or so in summer in traffic.