Here are pictures of the stock thermostat for my 2002 Monte Carlo SS 3800 Series 2 N/A

I am posting these because the generic ones the discount auto parts store will try to sell you look nothing like this, I recommend getting one that is specifically for your engine, not the generic, for about 7 dollars more than the generic it came with the rubber gasket (the generic did not) and I know I have the right part that functions as designed.

 

ewwww 195°

 

Not all of us mod NA 3800s like you do.........

Ok so mabye

 

hay some of us stockeys like our monte's to run cool as well. i have a cooler thermastat. i am luck to find it when i did my coolent flush. us 3.5 guy's have it a little ruffer than the 3.8 guy's. any improvment for us is a good thing including the cooler thermo is a good thing. remember the cooler the engine runs the better it runs. any thing that disapates the heat better is a good thing and it is also less wier on the engine like gaskets things like that

 

The 3.5L/3.9L come from the facotry with a cooler T-Stat. They are 185 from the factory.

And as for the OEM ones, I am a firm believer in an OEM T-Stat/ gasket after trying 3 different Fel-Pro "replacement, improved" gaskets. NONE of them fit, or sealed. The only gasket that worked was the OEM gasket for my 3.5L T-stat. Then again, the 3.5/3.9L T-Stat gasket is different than most GM T-Stat gaskets, and that is what I tried to explain to the parts guys. Nobody understood that the gaskets they were offering me were NOT the right gasket for my car, not even the dealer.

So I bought a whole new T-Stat, which of course had the right gasket on it.

 

I was just messing with chibi, I would have got a 180 if I had time and the engine wasnt going nuts. I also used the stock gasket.

 

I also used an AC-Delco thermostat for my 2004 Dale Jr. I don't like aftermarket T-stats and use OEM ones when I can.

Wayne

 

Nope, 180 degree, I got the 131-120

3800 Thermostat
195 degreeGM - 24506986(AC Delco #131-115)
180 degreeGM - 24505924(AC Delco #131-120)

 

Then I guess it's not really a STOCK thermostat ehhh???

 

use the factory spec'd t-stat. the motor needs to run at that temp to run its best.