what would happen if you removed the tstat and the coolant was freeflowing?

pending..

car will run rich and waste gas.. it may never heat up @ all up to operating temp. This will then also affect your oil.

so anythign less than a 180 wouldnt be good?

Some people tried 160 T-stat.. but I think majority of them would get an error code unless the PCM was repro to handle it

180 T-stat would be great.. if you like.. you can always drill 2 1/16" hole on the 180 T-stat

what brand/part number you got? the books at the stores only got stock and i cant take it out to compare cuz then i cant drive over there.

Just go to the store, ask for a 195 part #, find it, then find a 180 that'* exactly the same shape.
That'* what i did.

Pending on where you go.. they may label them differently..

You can wait till one of our NAPA or the likes Guru guy chime in and see if they can find it for you

I just got my CAI today and will be putting it on this weekend. I was thinking that while I was in there I would switch out the thermostat. I saw that the place I was at had to order the 180 but that they could also get a 160. So it sounds like the general opinion is that the 180 is the best bet unless you're doing some serious modding?

Might as well change the radiator hoses too.

I did when I changed my tstat