Hm, this is some good stuff to know. I bought a 180 degree thermostat for my car for the rebuild, but I also have a dyno tune factored into my budget to adjust timing and any other tweaks to squeeze out some extra horses.

Just some random info, when I bought my car, the previous owner removed the thermostat. I ran it without one for a few months and had no idea.

 

Yeah, Max asked obviously because he was considering changing to a lower stat. Is it worth it? Maybe and maybe not...it depends. There you go!
I definitely would not put a 160 stat in a winter driven car. Cabin heat is going to suck. I put a 180 in my last 3rd gen, and interior heat went from good to marginal.

 

Most people are missing the main concern with running a 160 degree thermostat and no tune: When a modern computer controlled vehicle is cold, the system is in "open loop" mode, meaning a predetermined amount of fuel is being dumped into the engine during warm up mode, until operating temperature is reached. As far as the ECU is concerned, 160 degrees is still within the warm up mode. This results in the ECU never achieving closed loop, or no information from the oxygen sensors will be used to determine fuel mapping.

You'll run pig rich and your fuel economy will suffer, as will your performance. So no, a 160 degree thermostat WILL NOT gain ANY horsepower, but actually have the opposite effect on a stock engine.

Most people recommend the factory thermostat (usually a 195), however I personally like to run a 180 degree thermostat in my vehicles as I like the extra 10-15 degree buffer zone I get in extreme conditions. A 180 degree thermostat is the lowest you want to go on a stock to semi stock setup.

Additional drawbacks of running a cooler thermostat include the engines decreased ability to burn off carbon deposits, decreased efficiency of emission controls, and increased emissions.

 

Okay so say i get a 180* Tstat, how would i go along on "tuning" my car? What exactly needs to be done or what do i need to do to actually "Tune" my car?

 

The tune is more than just playing with the computer. To properly tune the engine you change hardware like the throttle body or injectors for example and then you tune the computer to match the upgrades in hardware. You will need a programmer to make this happen, and knowlege on how to make the proper adjustments.

Back in the days of carbs this tuning took place as well. IT was all done with accelarator pumps, jets and needles, vacuum advance pots and advance springs. Everything you did then was mechanical to make advance curve changes or better take off/top end... it was all the same stuff we do now just a different way to make it happen.

Massey

 

dam glad i read this i think ill take the 160 back to autozone and get my 12 bucks back lol

 

Where can i find one of these tuner programs or devices? how much do they usually run?

 

for the tune i wouldnt get a hand held i would send your pcm to pcmforless. its $175 for an lt1 you get your moneys worth the more mods you have

 

Tuning is not just hardware, its knowing what the engine wants and needs. It can take years to learn to do it well. Even with tuning hardware or software you really should have a dyno just like a carb tune. PCMforless is a good way to go. They will ask you all kinds of question and send you a tune to match your car. I have yet to see someone unhappy with PCMforless. The only way your going to get better is to take your car to a Dyno tune place.

 

Also, If you dont know what you are doing with the computer part of the tunning you can cause damage to your engine. If you dont know then take the car to those who do. I am a good mechanic, just as good as most the guys in the shops, but I would not be trying this stuff on my own, I would let the pros handle this.

Massey