Is it OK to put a 180 degree thermostat in a 1996 Bonneville
 

I am just trying to find out if my computer will ge messed up if I switch my stock 195 degree thermostat out with a 180 degree thermostat. I went to buy one at the local autoparts store and they just went nuts and it would mess up the computer, so I figured I would get some info. I am pretty sure I have already seen this in the the Techinfo section but am not sure. Also why will this help with performance. I understand it will start letting coolant into the engine at 180 so it sould keep it cooler but will this help out a lot.

Thanks in advance for your info.
Parallelcircuits

One last thing my 1996 just hit 105000 miles and I am thinking about putting a aftermarket air filter and maybe changing the exhaust. Will this hurt my high milelage car. I know the enginge is strong it doesn't use or leak any oil between changes and still gets 25-30 mpg. But really don't want to risk hurting my Bonneville.

No.. in performance I don't think it will do anything, its just a precaution against head gaskets from melting which the Series II and Series I are prone for. It will not alter your computer in anyway since it's not hooked up to any computer. Nor will it alter any other sensor readings since it's independant from all sensor and is worked physically. Changing to an aftermarket intake CAI or even air filter and exhaust shoudl actually help with fuel economy as long as you don't have a lead foot from the added HP increase.. 8)

Drifter420 I see that you gutted out your air box. Is this any better than CAI I was accually thinking of taking some 3" PVC and making a type of ram air. It would be positioned behind the grill and I would cut a bigger hole in the air box. The think I don't like about the aftermaket intake is that there is nothing keeping it from the heat of the engine compartment. But I would probably make something to solve that problem. I already have a K&N flat filter it just looks like the design of the airbox is very bad, it only looks like it uses about half the filter. Also did you notice any difference when you removed the mass air flow screen?

Thanks
Parallelcircuits

Parrallel, do a search about 180 t-stats, there are some good strings. One was recently about a guy who had the same questions and concerns.
I did my '96 with no problems at all.

Do it, I did in my 96 SE and no probs with comp or anything.

If you gut your air box, i would suggest to only to it to the front. Doing it to the rear near the entrance to the throttle body makes the air turbulent. Also you should chop off the hole front, where the dinky little hole is.
If your gonna do the aftermarket intake thing then y not gut your hole air box and put the filter inside of that to shield the heat? This would probably be much more efficent than just gutting your air box. And if you want to make a better inclosure, there are detailed instructions on here on how to do it here. http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...pic.php?t=3828

Changing T-Stat is a great start to go with...Especially if you decide to go further..
AS for MAF screen...REMOVE IT...you may rumble slightly at idle...but as soon as it's warm no prob..SORTA reminds me of the BIG cam days....

I took my MAF screen out with great results too.
I would assume that your '96 Bonnie has the identical airbox as my '96 Olds LS. If it does, another thing you can do help it breathe better is to take out the half of the box on the downstream side of the air filter, the part that connects to the accordian tube on it's way to the throttle body. You'll notice it has a restrictive plate covering almost all of the box up, with a little cone to let air through. You'll also notice how the air filter only gets dirty in a little circle where the air gets to go through that cone.
Notice how the plate thing is 'welded' into the box. If you take a drill or Dremel, you can drill through the welds, and take the plate out. Be very careful that you don't drill through the weld and out the side of the box... don't ask me how I know this. :x
After I removed the MAF screen, and took that plate out, the car was much more snappy off the line, and accelerates harder in higher rpms. And I would say the mileage is the same or better.
FYI, I"m sure the restictive plate is there to quiet the intake down. THe MAF screen is there to provide a smooth flow over the MAF sensor, which I'm sure it's good at, but it's a restriction and a compromise. Removing it won't hurt anything, and you can always put it back in if you don't like the result.

If you're going with a true CAI.. then it's better then guttin the airbox. As it has more laminar air entering it. It removes the turbulance caused within the accordian tube and thus removing the MAF screen will definitely work with no hiccups. The internal piece that brminder is talkin about within the airbox is the resonator ( to damper engine noise escapin from the TB ) but also causes major air turbulance since of the gap between it and the back of the airbox. That piece also has to go. My 97 front piece is left alone as the opening is bigger then my Muffin's 95. The bottom part I left alone since it sits against a metal part and cuttin won't help in my case. ( Nor am I going to cut that metal out since I think it'll affect frontal collision safety )

I just got through putting in the 180 degree thermostat. I also flushed my coolant system, changed PVC valve, changed fuel filters, gutted my air box and removed the MAF screen. Car seems to have a much better reponse. Next is NGK Iridium IX plugs and maybe Taylor wires. Also I am going to work on a ram air system and maybe something with my exaust.

Parallelcircuits