im gunna be ordering a new stat shortly and which do i get a 180 or 160???

2002 5.3

 

That would depend mostly on where you live. If you get a lot of cold winter temps. i would use a 180 or stock. I used a 160 thermostat for a while in my 99 OBS truck and the heater didn't work well in the cold. I also didn't notice any type of performance improvement with the colder stat.

 

i live down in san antonio tx....

 

had a 160 in my ta, works good, gets the heater hot enough for texas weather

 

is there any point of having the 160 over the 180???? other then it running cooler...i plan to get e-fans and so would it be better to run the 180???

 

With the stock stat my truck ran at 195 degrees. With the 160 stat it now runs at 185 degrees. In my case it would have been a waste to run a 180 stat.

 

stock T-stat is a 185* so don't waste your $$ on a 180*

 

I say 160 or stock t-stat. i'm going with 160 when i put on my e-fans. BTW, i was wondering are the f-body and truck thermostats interchangable.(same part #) I found a 160 on a non sponser site for like 25 bucks and it says it is interchangable, but everywhere else wants like 40-50 bucks for one.

 

im running a 160 on mine in houston tx. never seen it run 160 though. it runs about 185 even in the winter. my e-fans should be in the mail soon.

 

Go with the 160. I had both and only saw a temp drop with the 160. My engine temps are consistently 177 degrees.

I was worried about the heater not working as well, but with this 160 in there, I'm WARM about 1/2 mile down the road immediatlely after a cold start (20 degrees). Even in the PA winters, this thing warms up quick and gets down right hot (I melted part of my heater vent where my air freshener was attached )