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secondchance · 07-18-2011

I checked the part number on the 180 degree thermostat and per Stant website confirmed that it was for vin code "J".
Drained the coolant and with some reluctance removed three bolts (2 for housing and one to bracket). Reluctant because the last time I removed these bolts I ended up stripping threads (corrosion caused by different metal and coolant?) and had to have the car towed to a local Midas. They had it helicoiled and assembled so there was no way for me to know how well it was done.
Housing bolts came out easy enough but the bolt to the bracket was tough. May have stripped this one since it seemed to keep turning while being reassembled.
Any way, I did drill 4 x 3/32" holes before the install, filled w/ anti-freeze and topped off w/ distilled water.
I noticed coolant recovery bottle had greenish crustation. So, I took it off the car and tried to get the crud off w/ an end of a wooden cooking utencil but there was no way to clean upper inside. So, I went ahead and ordered a new one from Corvette Central.
Crusing into work it was about 78 degrees and water temp was between 192 to 203 depending on the traffic and rpm. Real test will be going home this afternoon since we are expecting 95 degrees or so and traffic for sure.
I figure in traffic with AC on she will probably climb up to 225 plus since the limiting factor I think is the air movement through the rad and AC condenser. Therefore, lower temp thermostat eventually will not make much difference but we shall see.
As expected, going from factory thermostat to 180 seems to have dropped the temp by 15 degrees as expected.

07-18-2011	#27
secondchance Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: McLean, VA Posts: 3,732	Re: Thermostat question I checked the part number on the 180 degree thermostat and per Stant website confirmed that it was for vin code "J". Drained the coolant and with some reluctance removed three bolts (2 for housing and one to bracket). Reluctant because the last time I removed these bolts I ended up stripping threads (corrosion caused by different metal and coolant?) and had to have the car towed to a local Midas. They had it helicoiled and assembled so there was no way for me to know how well it was done. Housing bolts came out easy enough but the bolt to the bracket was tough. May have stripped this one since it seemed to keep turning while being reassembled. Any way, I did drill 4 x 3/32" holes before the install, filled w/ anti-freeze and topped off w/ distilled water. I noticed coolant recovery bottle had greenish crustation. So, I took it off the car and tried to get the crud off w/ an end of a wooden cooking utencil but there was no way to clean upper inside. So, I went ahead and ordered a new one from Corvette Central. Crusing into work it was about 78 degrees and water temp was between 192 to 203 depending on the traffic and rpm. Real test will be going home this afternoon since we are expecting 95 degrees or so and traffic for sure. I figure in traffic with AC on she will probably climb up to 225 plus since the limiting factor I think is the air movement through the rad and AC condenser. Therefore, lower temp thermostat eventually will not make much difference but we shall see. As expected, going from factory thermostat to 180 seems to have dropped the temp by 15 degrees as expected.