Changing Thermostat
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 21,915
Likes: 61
From: Miami Beach FL
Changing Thermostat
I went to swap out my stat yesterday from stock to a 180. I ordered the new one for my '98 and was all set. I took the existing one off and went to place the new one in the housing but no dice, wont fit.
I called the forum vendor I purchased from and asked if the wrong part may have been in the properly marked box. We took measurements and compared and came up with the same numbers, then he asked if I have had the pump replaced. I told him yes and would check into what pump was installed.
I had the part number on the receipt - 89018053 - so I searched it out and found out that the pump fits '97 - '03 with '04 listed seperatley but with the same number. Here's the kicker, all that's needed for the '04 is the stat and the only one that works is the LS2!
Bottom line - I found out the hard way that I have a '04 water pump on my '98 which works fine. So how does one tell if they have an '04 pump? by looking for this on the housing:
If the housing has the circled ear you have a '97 - '03 in which case you need the stat and housing. If the ear isn't there you have an '04 in which case you only need the stat.
Just thought I'd share.
I called the forum vendor I purchased from and asked if the wrong part may have been in the properly marked box. We took measurements and compared and came up with the same numbers, then he asked if I have had the pump replaced. I told him yes and would check into what pump was installed.
I had the part number on the receipt - 89018053 - so I searched it out and found out that the pump fits '97 - '03 with '04 listed seperatley but with the same number. Here's the kicker, all that's needed for the '04 is the stat and the only one that works is the LS2!
Bottom line - I found out the hard way that I have a '04 water pump on my '98 which works fine. So how does one tell if they have an '04 pump? by looking for this on the housing:
If the housing has the circled ear you have a '97 - '03 in which case you need the stat and housing. If the ear isn't there you have an '04 in which case you only need the stat.
Just thought I'd share.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 2
I asked the same question regarding many P/N`s list 97 thru 03, then seperate for 04, including a Diablo Tuner, what gives ?
Don`t any of you 2004 owners know what happened to the LS1 in 04 to make it so different, especially as a final year model run ????
Que Paso ?
Don`t any of you 2004 owners know what happened to the LS1 in 04 to make it so different, especially as a final year model run ????
Que Paso ?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 21,915
Likes: 61
From: Miami Beach FL
I'm going to a lower stat because when I had my car tuned the fan temps were lowered (190-195 I think). So though the stock stat works fine the fans run constantly. This isn't an issue as they are tough units, I simply want them to shut off.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Now if you mod your car,, supercharger, or heads/cam headers etc..and get an aftermarket tune, then it is beneficial to have a lower t-stat because you have made major changes to the tuning and are adding more power (and in some cases more heat) and have adjusted timing etc.. with the tune. Almost any major tuner on here will tell you this is the route to go. Most will say go with a 160 stat and set fans on earlier.
This topic has been debated to death on here, ,especially in the Tech section FYI.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 21,915
Likes: 61
From: Miami Beach FL
Swapping the T-stat , and setting the fans lower on a stock motor with stock tune is fine... sure the car will run a bit cooler, but you really wont gain any power or benefit...kind of a waste of time..but that's JMO to each his own.
Now if you mod your car,, supercharger, or heads/cam headers etc..and get an aftermarket tune, then it is beneficial to have a lower t-stat because you have made major changes to the tuning and are adding more power (and in some cases more heat) and have adjusted timing etc.. with the tune. Almost any major tuner on here will tell you this is the route to go. Most will say go with a 160 stat and set fans on earlier.
This topic has been debated to death on here, ,especially in the Tech section FYI.
Now if you mod your car,, supercharger, or heads/cam headers etc..and get an aftermarket tune, then it is beneficial to have a lower t-stat because you have made major changes to the tuning and are adding more power (and in some cases more heat) and have adjusted timing etc.. with the tune. Almost any major tuner on here will tell you this is the route to go. Most will say go with a 160 stat and set fans on earlier.
This topic has been debated to death on here, ,especially in the Tech section FYI.
The lower temp stat is a very worn subject however; this post was meant to be informational regarding which "year" water pump is installed on any given C5.
