I'm a real newbie at this, so thanks for any help you can give. From what I gathered, the LT1s run hot, and a lower thermostat (160 degrees) will let coolant flow earlier, thus reducing engine temperture, and keep performance and engine wear better. How much would this really help performance? Is it worth it?

Where would I get a 160 degree thermostat for a 93 trans am, and like I said, I'm a complete newbie... how hard is it to switch in in the palce of the old one?

Thanks

 

it will tell the computer then the engine is running cold and thus it will dump more fuel into the engine to try to warm it up. on a stock motor there is no point in putting a 160, but a 180 would be fine.

160's are good with computer tunning, nitrous and programers such as hypertech etc... hope this helps

as for instlation, its easy, remove the intake albow and you have easy access to the thermostat housing

 

SLP carries them www.slponline.com

You can also get them from hypertech. Sometimes part stores can special order them for you. It will be around $20.

To Change:
1. Remove MAF elbow
2. Let car cool
3. Drain fluid in radiator (Open petcock valve at bottom passenger side of radiator)
4. Remove two screws from thermostat opening
5. pull out old thermostat
6. clean off housing
7. put in new one. Make sure you put it in correctly.
8. **Optional** Use RTV around housing.
9. Tighten the screws. Don't tighten too much, Aluminum is easy to strip.
10. Perform !TB Bypass if you haven't already done that (Do a search)
11. Put MAF Elbow back
12. tighten radiator petcock valve
13. **Optional** Fill with Water wetter
14. Fill remaining with 50/50 mix of radiator fluid/distilled water.
15. Start car and bleed system.

You should be all set. To get the best gains, you will also want to have the fans programmed to come on earlier using pcmforless.com or using a fan switch.

 

If you are new to this then this is what you have to hear.

You need to switch to the 160 thermo and lower fan temp on points.

You can only do this if you get your PCM reprogrammed to accomodate these mods. If you put in the 160 thermo alone your engine is going to be a mess and you will have bad gas milage etc.

I found this guy on ebay that does computer tuning for about $100.00 and he sends you a cable that you have to plug into a laptop or PC and you can download your new program from any computer (as long as it can reach your car. This is what I would have done if I didn't purchase a Hypertech power Programmer III before hand. If you don't want to mess with other people and you want to do it the easy way then buy the HPP and do it right. Once you have the 160 thermo and HPPIII tuning installed your car will get better milage per gallon, run more consistant and never reach temps upwards of 185! Thats almost a 50 degree decrease! I felt the difference in my engine after the install. It only took me about an hour to do the TB bypass, thermostat and HPPIII tuning. This is a mod I say everyone should do before anythign else when they buy their car. Very important. If you have an auto trans do the trans cooler too. You will be glad you did.

cheers

 

Don't listen to any of that. First of all, all a thermostat does is allow more coolant to dump sooner. Last time I checked, I didn't see any wires coming out of my thermostat. The thermostat does not tell the computer anything. Also, 180 degree is stock, so don't do that. Put in a 160 deg thermostat, and you will run a little cooler. If you really want to run cooler, then you need to reprogram your computer to change your fan turn on temps (or have it done for you)

 

Thanks for all the help guys!