broke my 160 t stat

**third_shift|studios** · 05-07-2009, 05:59 PM

i broke a brand new 160 tstat

can i swap the innards with my stock tstat's housing?

they seem to fit perfectly

*******EDIT*******

DO NOT DO THIS!!!!!!!!
swaping the innards made the parts totally defective. The tstat would not open and had to be replace completely. In trying to switch back to the stock innards, those were rendered useless so i had to buy a whole new tstat.

**pajeff02** · 05-07-2009, 06:14 PM

Compare the two housings, but I want to say that the answer is "Yes". Just double check it if you do to ensure that your operating temp is where you want it. I believe any difference in the center pin height affects opening temp. How did you break it?

**Fox Body** · 05-07-2009, 06:21 PM

y the 160 degree....im not sure about these cars but i have heard on some one that low can cause it to stay open all the time and make for worse gas mileage

**rbob93** · 05-07-2009, 06:38 PM

I would think you could.....But how did you manage that??

**third_shift|studios** · 05-07-2009, 06:45 PM

the one i recieved didn't fit in the water pump-i noticed the to arms that hold the gizmo inplace were wider than the water pump hole. So I put it in a vice and started twisting...it snapped instead of bent>>>>

want a 160 b/c i run AX and the car sees serious heat at those events.

**third_shift|studios** · 05-07-2009, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

I believe any difference in the center pin height affects opening temp. ?

explain this-b/c i noticed there was a slight difference-the new one had a smaller recieving hole, where as the stock one has a wider hole. couldn't tell if there was actually a difference in height.

**rbob93** · 05-07-2009, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Compare the two housings, but I want to say that the answer is "Yes". Just double check it if you do to ensure that your operating temp is where you want it. I believe any difference in the center pin height affects opening temp. How did you break it?

Correct.....It's also possible to make the OEM unit a 160 by changing the pin length. Can't remember the exact size though.

**fxgs** · 05-07-2009, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by third_shift|studios

want a 160 b/c i run AX and the car sees serious heat at those events.

Do you have your fans programmed to come on earlier than the factory setting?

**JoshieDoom** · 05-07-2009, 10:06 PM

There are different styles of thermostats.. the pre 04 and the post 04.(2004)

You had the wrong kind. but yeah it will probably work if you do that.. Have you got a tune from Frost yet?

**pajeff02** · 05-08-2009, 04:50 AM

Originally Posted by third_shift|studios

explain this-b/c i noticed there was a slight difference-the new one had a smaller recieving hole, where as the stock one has a wider hole. couldn't tell if there was actually a difference in height.

One of the LS1 publications has a blurb about modifying your thermostats opening temp by inserting a spacer in the receiving hole. I think they used a small brass ferrule that had been ground down. You just have to be careful as too thick of a spacer will not allow the thermostat to close.

**third_shift|studios** · 05-08-2009, 05:08 AM

Thanks guys! sounds like i'm safe then. Yes, I got my fans reset too.

**mrr23** · 05-08-2009, 05:09 AM

Originally Posted by Fox Body

y the 160 degree....im not sure about these cars but i have heard on some one that low can cause it to stay open all the time and make for worse gas mileage

incorrect

**third_shift|studios** · 05-13-2009, 05:44 AM

HIGHLY NOT RECOMMENDED! Swaping the innards made the parts totally defective. The tstat would not open. In trying to switch back to the stock innards, those were rendered useless so i had to buy a whole new tstat.

**yellow goat** · 05-13-2009, 07:14 AM

i have a 160 in my goat, gas mileage increased a little.

**third_shift|studios** · 05-13-2009, 08:00 AM

I'm very sure that my gas would have gotten better too, but i'm just saying, do not try to rebuild the little gizmos-it leads to FAIL.

**pajeff02** · 05-13-2009, 08:22 AM

Not good, eh? Just for kicks, did you try boiling your thermostat on the stove to see if it opens at all? You can use a cooking thermometer to check the temp... Sorry for the fail.

**third_shift|studios** · 05-13-2009, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Not good, eh? Just for kicks, did you try boiling your thermostat on the stove to see if it opens at all? You can use a cooking thermometer to check the temp... Sorry for the fail.

I will check into that while the wife is at class tonight =) what do i do, just submerge it in the pot?

**pajeff02** · 05-13-2009, 12:53 PM

Suspend it from a piece of wire or something so that it is submerged, but does no touch the bottom of the pan. As you heat the water, watch the thermostat to determine at what temperature it starts to open and if it will open all the way.

If it is a 160 degree thermostat you will not have to hit the boiling point to see if it works or not. But... if you want to go over 212 (just for fun) add some coolant to increase your boiling point.

Does your stat have an air bleed hole on it somewhere? It is still posible that you had an air bubble in the system. I know ours did not open the first time I tried after the coolant flush.

**99WS6MAN** · 05-14-2009, 07:09 AM

I made this same mistake and ordered the wrong one ... the one I ordered was the housing with the T-Stat in place and all I needed was the thermostat itself. I couldn't swap the two out because I have the newer water pump that has a different neck on it than the old one so I'm curious to see how you swapped them ... the thermostat looked pretty hard to come off of that spring and metal notch.

**third_shift|studios** · 05-14-2009, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by 99WS6MAN

I made this same mistake and ordered the wrong one ... the one I ordered was the housing with the T-Stat in place and all I needed was the thermostat itself. I couldn't swap the two out because I have the newer water pump that has a different neck on it than the old one so I'm curious to see how you swapped them ... the thermostat looked pretty hard to come off of that spring and metal notch.

Really? both necks were identical. I have an 00 and replaced it's water pump with an 02's. All i did was compressed the spring with my palm and twisted