I live in the San Fransisco area of Cali and i was just wondering which thermo would be better for me....a 160 or 180. It doesnt get EXTREMELY cold here...no snow or anything, but the mornings can be quite chilly. Will a 160 be too cold for me in the winter? Will a 180 still help performance over stock one?

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/...ML/003380.html

 

160 is too low, simple as that.

 

I have a 160. Had it for 2 years now, only drive it in the summer. No problems here. I liked it better than the 180 I had in there from before. But I have to have this 160 stat in there for the chip to prevent detenation I guess.

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Eric Natzke
91 Firebird 305 TBI (ZZ5 summer of "01")
ASCD Ram Air Hood-3" custom exaust-Flowmaster 80 Series-No Cat-Edelbrock TES Headers (coated)-March Pulleys-TBI Spacer-K&N Open ELement-TransGo Shift Kit-B&M Supercooler 28,000 GVW-Hypertech Thermomaster-160 Stat-3:42 GM Gears-Auburn Posi Unit-Edlebrock Strut Tower Brace-MSD Superconducters-MSD Cap & Rotor-MSD Blaster Coil-Rapidfire Plugs-265/50/R15 Tires-Emmison's all Gone
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/91firebird.html
For info on certain parts or mods go to the site below
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/modeval.html

 

Bird, r u saying that if i go with a chip, i HAVE TO use 160? Why, I don't understand this thing about detonation?

Ethan

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'88 T/A
305 TBI with WC-T5
50,000 miles
Flowmaster 3" exhaust
14" K&N Open Element

 

What comes stock???? (160 or 180) And what does the other one do??? I understand that it opens at a higher temperature??? is that correct? Would this make the heat warmer?, Take longer to get warm? Some1 let me kno, pleeeze.

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1988 Firebird Formula 305 TBI, T-Tops, RED.
Of course ... 5-Speed

 

the stock is 190 i believe, or maybe its 195...anyways getting the cooler thermostat means the thermostat opens at a lower temperature and keeps the car running cooler. Our cars run bettter when theyre cool, but as the answers to my post suggest, the 160 is too cool, and 180 is optimal for our tbi's.

 

i ran a 160 for about a year and a half, even in winter and had no problems. However, since ive put the stock one back in, ive gained in gas mileage and the car seems to pull/accelerate and idle smoother. I think that the 160 is just to low, especially if you run in the winter, winter meaning below 45 degrees, i'd say.

 

Nic u ran a 160 stat in the winter?! Why didn't u just change it out?!

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Eric Natzke
91 Firebird 305 TBI (ZZ5 summer of "01")
ASCD Ram Air Hood-3" custom exaust-Flowmaster 80 Series-No Cat-Edelbrock TES Headers (coated)-March Pulleys-TBI Spacer-K&N Open ELement-TransGo Shift Kit-B&M Supercooler 28,000 GVW-Hypertech Thermomaster-160 Stat-3:42 GM Gears-Auburn Posi Unit-Edlebrock Strut Tower Brace-MSD Superconducters-MSD Cap & Rotor-MSD Blaster Coil-Rapidfire Plugs-265/50/R15 Tires-Emmison's all Gone
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/91firebird.html
For info on certain parts or mods go to the site below
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/modeval.html

 

i was in college at colorado state. I had a hammer, a phillips and a flat head screwdriver, some ducktape and thats about it for tools. I only drove the car about once a week, it would just take about 10 minutes to heat up, thats all. and i only drove it less that 10 miles when i did, except when i would drive home from school to omaha, or to my girlfriends school in missouri. The temp would stay at about 120 across nebraska in the winter, but i dont think it hurt the car any, i havent noticed any problems.

I should have changed it though, i probably gummed up the motor because of constant incomplete combustion. Im just guessing that the constant low temp didnt allow the motor to run right correctly and might have played with timing and AIR ****, just a guess. Im suprised my cat still works. No problems though.

 

I have a 160 and yes gas milage isn't great but that's usually what you give up for performance. Remember, it's not like you're making the car more efficient, that's what GM did. We're now trying to squeeze the most perf out of it. I also have a hypertech thermo chip so they do say that with anything more the engine with detonate. I think that's BS though, just trying to get peeps to buy 160 thermos or something, because when my car overheated for like a week I didn't have any problem with detonation. I really didn't give much about the engine and I really cared about getting to work. I finally replaced the fan motor and it was back to normal. Murphy's Law: When it is the worst time for something to go bad, it will. In my case it was during the summer.

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, Jon (91 RS too many mods to list)

 

there is no appreciable performance difference between a 180 and 160 stat except the 160 stat is harder on the engine and delivers far more inconsistent performance ( i bought into the 160 stat idea too and have since seen the light)

there is also the issue of how hot your oil temps are getting and that is really a best indicator.. from what I understand, a 160 engine coolant temp isnt real conducive to an optimal oil temp

not to mention, when you get down to 160, the tables in the chip get kinda funny , for instance, wot air fuel ratio vs temp is way richer at 160 than 180, lots of other little things going on in the background that you end up going head to head with with a 160 stat

go with the 180, and have a cooling system that can maintain that temp

im actually dealing with some cooling system gremlins now


160 stats are a waste of time and gas

 

Is it safe to use a chip and a 180 thermostat?



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'88 T/A
305 TBI with WC-T5
50,000 miles
Flowmaster 3" exhaust
14" K&N Open Element

 

I just got an email from Jet Chip. They have a low temp. thermo that they recommend with their stage 2 chip, and its not 160, its a 180 degree.They happen to agree with Pablo.

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'88 T/A
305 TBI with WC-T5
50,000 miles
Flowmaster 3" exhaust
14" K&N Open Element

[This message has been edited by ethan71 (edited December 07, 2000).]

 

Hmm, now I am starting to think I should swap that 160 out of there now.

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Eric Natzke
91 Firebird 305 TBI (ZZ5 summer of "01")
ASCD Ram Air Hood-3" custom exaust-Flowmaster 80 Series-No Cat-Edelbrock TES Headers (coated)-March Pulleys-TBI Spacer-K&N Open ELement-TransGo Shift Kit-B&M Supercooler 28,000 GVW-Hypertech Thermomaster-160 Stat-3:42 GM Gears-Auburn Posi Unit-Edlebrock Strut Tower Brace-MSD Superconducters-MSD Cap & Rotor-MSD Blaster Coil-Rapidfire Plugs-265/50/R15 Tires-Emmison's all Gone
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/91firebird.html
For info on certain parts or mods go to the site below
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/modeval.html

 

160 Thermostats were cutting edge technology when flatheads ruled.

then they were a crutch for poor tuning, and lazy chipsters