A thermostat won't effect whether your truck overheats or not.

 

I stopped in the local hardware store for some bolts. Upon exit, I spoke with a gentleman in an older Z71 on 33" Mud Claws with very little tread left. I asked how many miles on the Mud Claws and he indicated 35,000 miles and only one rotation to date, (he's pricing a new set now). I'm hoping for 45,000 on the 98's Mud Claws with 4 rotations. We both agreed the tires would enable one to climb a tree, (lol). His driving history is mostly local, farm, off-road with no interstate, (like for like). I'm pleased with this tread life, for a mud tire. K.

 

Huh, I've been told to use a 185* so my truck won't over heat, but if that's not the case I'll put a 195 back in for year round.

 

The 185* thermostat just opens 10* sooner than the 195 so it takes a little longer to warmup and runs rich a little longer, probably not a benefit to you in North Dakota.

 

I run the 190 all year with no problems and it gets pritty hot around hear

 

Think about it. All it does is open up your thermostat 15ish degrees Cooler. so than your coolant starts circulating.

If your water pump and rad aren't up to snuff it won't matter what thermostat you have in.

 

Since you're using an SCT tuner, you may notice pinging without the 180* stat. Just go back to the stock tune for winter, and run the 195* stat. Heat is non-existant with a 180* stat, and you need that in winter up here!

 

Thanks for the insight guys. However I need my tuner for the 318 PCM but 360 engine, so stock tune is 87 unless I can run without the tuner. Guess I'll just see what happens when winter strikes. Haha last year I froze in my truck with a 180* wish I knew this stuff earlier

 

I would just leave the tune how it is and put in the 195.

 

I replaced my sway bar bushings today as they were pretty worn. Broke off one of the bolts, and it wouldn't come out with a bolt extractor (broke 2 bolt extractors), so I had to drill it out and re-tap the whole. I tapped it to a 7/16 and used a grade 8 7/16 bolt to hold the new bracket / bushing in place.

Does anyone know the actual thread on the bolts for the sway bar bushings? I'd like to replace the other 3 bolts with grade 8 hardware.