I know how these aluminum 4.6 motors seem to get heat soaked once they warm up and the performance suffers some. Has anyone changed their thermostat to a 160 degree unit and if you did......notice any difference?
I know my car loves spring, fall, and winter.....runs totally different in the summer due to the heat.

 

Aluminum is funny, I've given thought about running one myself but have yet to do it, I am going to hook up a manual switch for the fans so when I'm at the track I can run them between rounds.

 

I have the fans turn on sooner with my tuner and the 160 deg thermo for the S/C install and feel it is worth it as the motor does run cooler more often.

 

I havent been able to find a cooler running thermostat, but would install a 180 if i could come up with it. as far as the heat soak problem, I have wrapped the radiator hoses that are under the cai to help keep the temp from the hoses to heat up the intake so much. it helps make it more consistant at the track

 

The S197 GT comes with a 180 thermostat from the factory

 

no it doesnt lol Its somewhere between 195and205

 

Be careful with making your engine too cold. While heatsoak is bad, you do want to let it get up to operating temperature. When I dyno'ed my car two weeks ago, every run I did 2 back to back, and consistantly, the second run always gave me 10 to 15 HP more. Your dealing with an aluminum block, which is slightly different than an iron block.

 

Sure about that? Check page 7 of this document
4.63V_engine_specs.pdf