I found out that my car has the top part of the thermostat but the pressure spring that lets it open has been hacked off, by the previous owner, now is this bad for the car because its always got coolant running through it? I live in florida so it doenst take much to get the car warmed up.

 

I've heard of people running without a thermostat and not many problems, but why take a chance? Go buy a thermastat for 5 bucks and be done with it.

 

actually, no. Not with the reverse flow that the lt1 has.

 

Ummm no what?

 

you cant run with no stat in!!

 

so should i buy a 160*?

 

Yes you can. I did it for several months.

Took a friggin long time to warm up, once it was warmed up it wouldn't go down any further than it would have with a 160 though, the flow characteristics weren't very good...

 

i think it's more like:

not GOOD to run without a stat

and you ahve to make sure the stat is designed for the lt1 reverse coolant system.
a standard SBC stat will not work right

just buy the 160 stat out of summit or jegs

 

Which is exactly what I said....*shrug*

 

Just buy the 160 stat.

Your car will be happier with that than without one at all. Trust me.

 

DO NOT BUY THE $5 stats at autozone or any other store.

go to your dealer. i know dealer can charge a bundle, but not many place sells the stock reverse flow LT1 t-stat. unless you want to go get 160 degree t-stat, you can purchase it at autozone for $20.

running without thermostat will free flow your coolant. this is not good, since you need your coolant to sit in the radiator to let it cool off. your temp gauge however will show that your car is running much cooler, but it is not cooler.

 

well wont running a 160* be just like having no stat? my car will never see under 160* isnt that when the stat closes?

 

No and 160 degrees is when the stat will open.

 

I think that you misread him.

 

According to some of the articles I have seen the thermostat in the LT1 actually helps direct coolant flow. It is advisable that you leave one in. Think of it this way- if your car is always going to be over 160 anyway, then the thermostat will always be open, but it will be helping the coolant flow better than if you didn't have on in.

If you don't want to buy a new thermostat, then you should just reuse the old one after you modify it so coolant can always go through.

I do not claim to actually know how well the thermostat helps in directing coolant, but that is always what I have read, and from my experience not running a thermostat, you're better off with one.