In the 3 years that I've owned my car, I'm now putting in my 4 thermostat. Is this just bad luck that they keep dying, or is there something about the LT-1 that kills thermostats for some reason? I don't know anyone else that's gone through so many. Just curious,

Bill

 

I changed to a 160 Hypertech stat almost 5 years ago now still going strong. What is your engine doing to make you think the t/stat is going and causing you to replace it multiple times?

Tony

 

I too think it is something about your car or something you are doing because few of us ever have any stat problems.

 

What brand t'stat have you been using? Is it the unique t'stat required specifically for the LT1?

 

Its kinda of odd for a stat to go bad, there really is nothing to them to break. Iv only replaced mine once, but iv only owned car for a couple months.

 

I assume that you are using the t-stat for "reverse cooling system"?

 

Bizzare.

 

If the T-stats you have been using only have (1) spring then I believe that you have been using the incorrect T-stat for the Reverse Cooling sytem which has a (two-spring) stat and only flows one way---going first to cool the heads. Using the wrong t-stat will compromise the cooling of the heads. JMHO

 

Using the wrong stat will def give you problems. If your stats are failing because they are seizing then I would suggest flushing your system pretty well.

 

Well I read on here a long time ago about the different types of stats. I also read that to get the "right" one, one should go to Napa. That is where I have gotten all of mine from. The temperature gauge sky rockets very rapidly, even when the radiator is still cool...take out the thermostat and the problem is solved...sounds to me like a simple procedure to figure out what is broken.
Bill

 

So, you say you are getting the correct, long thermostat? Are you bleeding the system of all air? That can cause a false reading in the temp sensor in the head (the one used for the gauge).

 

Yep, bled it and everything. It's not as if the thermostat 'broke' while I was changing the fluids...it lasted for at least a year. One I think only lasted a few short weeks...

 

How are you determining the thermostats are failing? What is breaking on them?

 

You actually "searched" and found a post that said to get it at NAPA? I've never heard of any parts store as being a reliable source of t'stats for an LT1. They generally have no idea that it is TOTALLY different from any other SBC in existance.

Did you compare the one you are using to the one shown on Shoebox's Tech Pages?

http://shbox.com/1/tstat.jpg

 

Yes, the picture is the same as the ones I've had. Yes I actually read on here somewhere that caused me to start going to napa. I believe, it was a long time ago though, that it said Napa usually will give you the correct one, whereas Advance Auto would give you the short one.
Well when the car temperature goes way up with the thermostat in it, and then stays normal when you take it out and/or replace it...seems to me to be the thermo...?
Maybe I'm just unlucky and get defective ones?