OK, where is it so I can change it if I decide to? :cheers:

 

Do you want to know where it is located on the car or where it is set at in order to determine what to change it too?

 

In the event you are asking for the actual location of the thermostat you will find it on the passenger side of the engine, in front about half way down the block.

There is a large diameter black hose (if you still have the stock hose) that is clamped to the thermostat.

The thermostat is held in by two bolts.

Chuck


[Modified by chucschramm, 10:06 PM 10/9/2002]

 

Chuck,
Yes I was asking for the actual location. Did you change yours? How hard was it to do?

 

I am actually having my stock thermostat replaced today (w/ 160 degree stat) along with an oil change, tranny fluid change, and coolant flush. The themorstat install requires draining the coolant from the car, so I just took it to the mechanic. That way I don't have to worry about lifting the car to get to the radiator drain plug.

 

You can just put a big catch pan under the car and yank the hose. Worked for me...

 

Yes I did change mine out to a 160.

I did not drain the coolant. I put a plastic trash can lid under car to catch any coolant that might leak.

I unclamped the radiator hose from the stock thermostat and placed in a position with the open end up so it would not leak any coolant.

I prepared the new thermostat for install and placed on car so I could get to it easily and quickly when required.

I removed the two bolts holding the stock thremostat to block making sure to keep the thermostat pressed into block to keep coolant from running out.

When ready i quickly pulled stock thermostat away with one hand and replaced with new thermostat with other hand. Hardly any coolant was released.

While holding new thermostat against block I reinstalled two bolts, tightened down to torque spec and then replaced raditor hose and clamped it up.

Sounds like more trouble than it is but it is far less effort than to remove/replace the coolant.

Good luck to you and feel free to contact me if you need aditional information.

Chuck

 

Chuck,
Great instuctions. I printed out the post and will use your instuctions. Does not seem hard. Thanks :cheers:

 

I just happened to be flushing my coolant system anyway so I took that opportunity to replace my thermostat and install a fan switch. Very easy to do, in fact, it is much easier to do on my LS1 engine than it is on my L98 engine.

 

Why do people want to put in a 160º thermostat when the engine is designed to work with a 187º? When the engine gets to 190º both thermostats will be wide open so if the engine continues to get hotter then you have a system problem........... debree, internal clogged radiator, bad thermostat, etc.

 

I live in hot South Florida and I run the 187. I almost had to have a fight with my tuner to get him to lower the fan on temp. He did lower it some. In the summer I run 194 to 201.

 

Curious what your first fan on temp is. I modified mine to open at 180 but am considering returning to the stock unit as my oil temps are a little too cool for comfort.

 

why do people stir up 9 year old threads?

 

Are you having overheating problems? Or are you having a tune and the tuner is requiring a 160 before the tune can be done?

 

Actually I just bought my first ever Corvette. To save a bundle of money I bought an old one, 1999 model. For a 13 year old car it has been well cared for but I've been going trough the simple maintenance items that might need doing. I thought the cooling system was full of rusty water before I read about Dex-Cool. Never the less I drained, flushed, and refilled with the green stuff. I really think it was probably the original coolant. I used the green stuff mostly because it says it's good for ALL cars plus I still have only one kind of antifreeze for all my cars. Auto Zone stocks what they say is the standard 187º thermostat and I observed the Corvette was running much cooler then that. These cars and all the systems that go with them are designed to run hot as compared to engines of the 50's and earlier. I've probably been guilty of thinking a car in traffic or on the Interstate in July is less likely to overheat with a cooler thermostat but that won't be the case. That 160º thermostat will be wide open at 190º as will the new 187º one. Anything hotter then that will be the result of coolant flow, radiator size, outside temperature, etc. not the thermostat. I didn't stick with the Dex-Cool but stayed with the factory thermostat temperature. I would like to add that this forum gave me the design of a great set of ramps that I built and couldn't work any better. It also saved my butt draining the radiator with that goofy little valve. It really pays to share. Thanks everyone.

 

how did you modify the stat to open at 180? Im also wondering about returning to the factory 187 thermo and using the fans to hold the temp. Mine with the 160 runs 190-194 in the summer. I raised my fan temp to raise the temp in the winter.

 

These are simple jobs you could do yourself in a very short time with limited tools/jacks/ramps. and limited experience. Keep your beauty away from the "Stealerships", it will last longer.

 

How do you change the 'fan-on' temperature?

 

i love the fact that people argue over thermostat temps. I really like the argument of "well that is how the factory designed it"

The factory also designed the CLB, rubber seat grommets, a crappy PCV system and a leaky rear end but no one faults you for changing those.

 

that's controlled in the pcm and can be changed with tuning software