A thermostat question, if you please:

[Roger in Kensington]

What is the temperature setting of the stock thermostat in a 1998 Trans Am?

I'm getting ready to flush and refill the coolant system (and replace all the hoses) and will likely replace the stock thermostat with one of a lower setting.

Thanks.

[wolfdogs]

What is the temperature setting of the stock thermostat in a 1998 Trans Am?

I'm getting ready to flush and refill the coolant system (and replace all the hoses) and will likely replace the stock thermostat with one of a lower setting.

Thanks.

being an x lt1 owner...i never paid attention, other than i heard the ls1 folks were going with 180's...some 160's....

remember Rog, if you dont reprogram your fans...the only time its going to run cooler is on the highway at speed...in traffic, its going to be the same as the stock stat.

[casey02ws6]

Stock is 180 - a lot of owners switch to 160. I am being told I should swap to a 160. It is getting computer tuned next week.

[Injuneer]

The LS1 t'tsat is expensive because it includes a complete housing.... I think about $60. It is possible to alter the temperature setting of the stock t'stat to as low as 168degF, by placing a spacer between the wax pellet and the thermostat piston. The "free mod" is outlined on page 58 of the Chris Endres "Chevy LS1/LS6 Peformance" book.

I thought that when GM returned the LS1 to "conventional" cooling they would have changed the thermostat to a higher temperature, although perhaps using the inlet side location for the t'stat alters that slightly. Again, the Endres book indicates its a 195degF stocker. Aftermarket catalogs offer 180degF and 160degF replacements. Its the LT1 reverse flow cooling that comes with the 180degF stock 'stat.

[Roger in Kensington]

Thanks, everyone.

This is useful information.