i have a 2000 V6 Camaro and i was wondering if a lower temperature thermostat would be a good thing or not to get cause what i heard is that it doesn't add horsepower but it opens up options for other mods to add more horsepower is this true and if i was to get a low temp thermostat which one should i get?

 

Only if you plan on getting a tune on your PCM. You should do at the same time as the tune, because it will cost you HP and MPG until you get the tune. Do your other modes first and install a 160 or a 180 thermo right before the tune.

 

What exactly do i have to tune on my PCM like what am i supposed to do?

 

The tune in your PCM is the program that says if this then that. Example: If it sees the throttle move from 20% open to 30% open then increase injector pulse 7%. It is what controls your fuel ratio and your spark timing. All the stuff we use to have to manually set during a tune-up. The factory tune is pretty good on a stock engine, once you start modifying your motor with things like headers you change the characteristic of the engine so to get the car back to optimal running it needs to be tuned. There are three ways to get your car tuned. First are you buying the tuning software and do it yourself with a laptop. As a lot of guys have learned after buying the software, you really need to understand how everything affects everything else. It takes years to become a good tuner. Option 2 is take it to a shop the Dyno tunes cars. They will set your car up on a dyno and make adjustment on the fly. Most have huge data bases containing other tunes on similar engine and they just tweak a few variables for your car. Last Option and most economically friendly is the mail order tune. You send off your PCM and based on tons a research and testing a company will look at your motor and all your mods and they will update your tune. Pcmforless is one company that does it but you should research yourself.
Your current tune is for 195 temp thermo. If the motor runs colder then that it will be less efficient. But a colder engine can handle more timing advance so if you cool the motor down and add more timing advance in the tune and combine it with better gas you can free up 8-10 ponies. You can get a stock engine tuned but you will most likely see 5 HP increase. A set of headers may add 10 HP. But if you add headers a 180 thermo and a tune you could see a 25 HP gain.