Ive got a 1986 corvette and I want to change the thermostat to a 160degree thermostat and was wondering if the throttlebody must be removed to change it or will there be clearance without removing it. thanks!!

You don't have to remove the throttle body.
David

It still will not change your operating temperature. The temp is programed by a thermister that is read by the ECM.

It still will not change your operating temperature. The temp is programed by a thermister that is read by the ECM.
Changing the thermostat to a 160d will lower the operating temperature of your engine. A thermostat is a mechanical devices and has nothing to do with your ECM. Now the lower temps mite cause some funny readings with the ECM, but probably not. It will work fine. I have worked on corvettes every day for the last 21 years and never heard that one before.
David

So would I be better off putting in a 180 degree thermostat or stay with the 195 degree thermostat , the last time I ran the Vette I was getting Temps of 210 degrees and it wasnt a a warm day. the cooling fan is operating properly and secondary fan comes on at 238 degrees like it should

My 84 runs at about 200 degrees under normal conditions and about 225 with the A/C on idling in traffic, after I had the coolant system serviced. At what temp should I start to get concerned?

Thanks!

My 84 runs at about 200 degrees under normal conditions and about 225 with the A/C on idling in traffic, after I had the coolant system serviced. At what temp should I start to get concerned?

Thanks!

I would be concerned with temps upward around the 230+ range. What temps are you seeing with your oil?

Changing the thermostat to a 160d will lower the operating temperature of your engine. A thermostat is a mechanical devices and has nothing to do with your ECM. Now the lower temps mite cause some funny readings with the ECM, but probably not. It will work fine. I have worked on corvettes every day for the last 21 years and never heard that one before.
David

:iagree:

My 84 runs at about 200 degrees under normal conditions and about 225 with the A/C on idling in traffic, after I had the coolant system serviced. At what temp should I start to get concerned?

Thanks!
Hello, 200 degrees is just rite. Cooling fans come on at 226 degrees. It's doing just who it's supposed to do.
David

The thermister causes the ECM to tell the primary fan to come on at 226 to 227 and to shut off at around 200 regardless of the thermostat you install. The secondary fan comes on at 240 or when you turn on the AC. You can change when the primary and seconday fan comes on by changing and rewiring the secondary temp sensor. This will lower your operating temperature. There is a wealth of info in the search to do this.

The thermister causes the ECM to tell the primary fan to come on at 226 to 227 and to shut off at around 200 regardless of the thermostat you install. The secondary fan comes on at 240 or when you turn on the AC. You can change when the primary and seconday fan comes on by changing and rewiring the secondary temp sensor. This will lower your operating temperature. There is a wealth of info in the search to do this.

Arizona- what wheels do you have on your C4? Do you have any side shots you can share? Thanks

The thermister causes the ECM to tell the primary fan to come on at 226 to 227 and to shut off at around 200 regardless of the thermostat you install. The secondary fan comes on at 240 or when you turn on the AC. You can change when the primary and seconday fan comes on by changing and rewiring the secondary temp sensor. This will lower your operating temperature. There is a wealth of info in the search to do this.
Hello
If the coolant temperature never gets to 226/227 degrees and stays at around 190/200 degrees because of the cooler thermostat how can the ECM have any thing to do with the operating temperature of the engine. That's what I'm saying, I guess every day physics wont work on corvettes.
David Steele

When I first bought my Vette ( an 88) I had some overheating problems as well. Seems the C4’s like to collect an assortment of dirt, dead bugs, leaves and what not in the radiator area. When I removed the radiator I could not believe the amount of crap that was packed around the bottom. To do a decent job of cleaning that area, you got to remove the radiator completely.
As long as you got it out anyway, if there is a good radiator shop in the area it might be worth while to take it in and have it tanked and pressure tested.
When you reinstall, fill the overflow bottle to the cold line and the radiator to the top with a 50/50 mixture of anti-freeze…after the engine is warmed up, and with the radiator cap off, have someone sit inside the car and rev the motor to about 2000, 2500 RPM….while the engine is running at that speed top off the radiator and install the cap. I’ve heard that called “packing,” and it is the only way I know to get the cooling system good and full right away.
As to the thermostat….the only difference between a 160 degree, a 185 degree, etc. is the temperature THEY OPEN at. Once the coolant temp gets to 200 degrees, there is NO DIFFERENCE between the 160, 180, and 190 as at that point they are ALL OPEN. If your cooling system is clean and working as it should, you want the hotter temps as you get better fuel mileage and you need 212 degrees or more to remove moisture from the oil.