slayer6x6

Im going to send my PCM out to get a madz28 tune this week. Im trying to decide if I want to go with a lower thermostat or not so that I can have him program the PCM accordingly. Can you guys point out any pros and cons of this?

Fuels94TA

pro is more free hp, cooler running car. con is bad emissions.

MarkyMark

if you run your car in the winter the heater wont be near as warm......other than that I would say go for it. Although the 160 t stat doesnt have to be programmed in, unless your talking about the fans coming on early.

unvc92camarors

jmho, leave it alone
it's already got a 180 tstat and that is good enough for me
you only want your engine to stay so cold
just my .02

ibanez6rg

Definitely worth it. The cooler your LT1 runs, the more it'll love you.

revtime

160 Stat and programming for earlier fan turn on is a great thing in my opinion.
One of the first things I did cause I hated how hot my car was getting. I believe it has helped not only with keeping the car cooler but keeping all the underhood stuff from suffering in the heat.
Keeping it cooler makes it last longer.
The only down side is with a 160 stat in the winter you will freeze your you know whats off.
I made the sacrifice and I am glad I did.
No ill effects on performance my car runs 13.4@104 with 147k on the LT1.

slayer6x6

What temp. are they rated stock?

WS Sick

My stock stat was rated at 195 deg.

ChrisUlrich

In the Winter you freeze because? The motor runs cooler, it shouldn't effect your heater that much... should it? I want a 160 Thermostat!! Damn it!! L0L

J's 82

The heater will blow hot, and take the same amount of time to blow hot.. unless it is so cold you shouldn't be running the car in the first place.. my car was in my home state of Idaho in winter and was fine..

the only caveat to that would be if a fourthgen has a very inefficient heater design..

WS Sick

Or a worn out or clogged heater core.

ibanez6rg

I thought stock stats were 180?

z28marine

With my 160 i noticed that the car first off, runs alot cooler when traveling on the freeway or something.... it will still get hot sitting in traffic, but will not get hot as fast.... but when im cruising on the freeway the temp is barely above the 160 mark on the gauge.... but, the heater sucks in the winter...

revtime

Lets see in winter if its say.....30 degrees out then its not too bad and the heater works ok, now when it gets down to say 10 degrees or colder you are gonna hate it cause you will have no heat.
My car with the 160 stat and programming never goes past the first mark, on extremely hot days it will come close to the first mark but it has never gone past it. I know if it goes past that first mark I got problems and that gives me plenty of time to get it shut down before it overheats.
Mine has been in for years and I can live with it fine.
I also have the original alternator on the car at 147k and I have to believe it has lasted this long because it wasn,t baking in the heat.

slayer6x6

I just got back from Pep Boys, they guy tried telling me that they dont make a 160* stat, I have to get a 180*. Yeah, ok buddy...