Who besides hypertech makes a 160 degree thermo for our cars? I just found one made by Mr. Gasket that only says it's for a chevy. Does anyone know if this will fit?

 

nope its for the older SBC not the lt1. im not sure if any other company makes them, but i would think the price is about the same 20-25 dollars.
jesse

 

Hypertech has the cheapest one (20.00) and the SLP one is 25.00

Make sure it is for the LT1 as it uses reverse cooling. Traditional SBC engines do not use the reverse cool.

 

Beleive it or not a Hypertech 160 stat is really a "moto-rad" brand stat in a Hypertech box !! Once you open the Hypertech box and look at the stat it has MOTO-RAD stamped right on it!!

Moto-rad 160* stats are like $12.00 or so... You can buy it out of summit or Jegs!! Or just go to your local parts store and pick up a 56mm 160 stat and new rubber gasket to go arround it and put it in....

There is nothing unique about LT1 stats so dont be fooled to think other wise because of reverse flow cooling...or just spend $25 buck on a Hypertech and $5 on some KY jelly cause your gonna need it !! J/K

See Fred"s post bellow as he corrects me on my ignorance.


Later,
Jason Coffman
JDC PERFORMANCE

 

See Rob/Shoebox's tech page for a picture illustrating the differences between the standard SBC t'stat and the "reverse flow" version.

You aren't going to damage the engine with the wrong one, but they do not function the same.

 

OK..OK I'm sorry I was incorrect but that is why we have this board. Thank you for showing me that link Fred as you imput is allways great and correct based on tec facts.
Can you explain why the small orffice gets closed off while the state is open?? Does it close off the TB routing or something??

 

I have a question on the 160 degree stat. I was told yesterday, that putting a lower stat, that it could possibly retard your timing. Is this possible? Or do you have to reprogram your PCM?


Thanks
Tuff.

 

The old SBC thermostat placement in the intake manifold is a very simple in/out design. It gets more complicated (or GM made it so) when you put the thermostat in the water pump. The water pump has many hoses coming off of it and several inner passages. When the small orifice is open water goining in and out of the engine can mix inside the pump. Perhaps they did it so you would get heat out of the heater faster, I don't know. After you have reached operating temperature, you don't want any mixing in the pump. The orifice gets closed by the thermostat and coolant is routed efficiently in/out of the radiator like you would expect/want it to.

The old SBC thermostat will fit, but you lose effiiciency. It is not worth a few bucks to take a chance on an overheated engine, given the delicate nature of the head gaskets. MHO.

 

Making it cooler is not going to retard timing. No reprogramming is mandatory. You can read some stuff about the 160º thermostat here.

 

Thanks for clearing it up for me, great information.

Tuff.