Hypertech was sourced for a 160-degree thermostat to help lower our LT1's operating temperature--freeing up horsepower and reducing the likelihood for detonation. One common misunderstanding newbies have about thermostats is that the operating temperature should be equal to the thermostat temperature, but that isn't the case. In actuality, since the thermostat acts as a valve to allow or disallow coolant from the radiator to pass into the engine, all the designated temperature demarks is the point in which it begins to open. For example, with the 160 PowerStat the thermostat stays closed until 160, and is fully open at 175 Fahrenheit. For racers, this means that coolant will begin circulating much earlier before the motor picks up too much heat.
Shifting over to the right, the plastic mounting plate for the K&N intake goes smooth side up in the hole in the bulkhead where the factory air duct used to be, and is screwed into place. Two washers and a nut are included to complete the task, which will require tightening from underneath (on a lift). | 
The intake tube slips through the mounting plate (with the long skinny end), and connects to the rubber factory elbow via a rubber adapter hose and clamps. Once connected the A.I.R. pump hose can be slipped on. A speed density adapter hose is included for '93 models, or just in case we wanted to eliminate the MAF. | 
A 10mm socket is used to remove the plastic undercarriage panels, so that Glen can slip the K&N filter and clamp onto the protruding intake tube. Tightening this clamp blindly almost completely assures that without a lift you are S.O.L. All the trouble is worth it, though, when you consider how restrictive the stock parts are. |
Moving on to the exhaust, a 13mm and 15mm socket along with a blowtorch were required to break free the nut and bolt that connect the intermediate pipe to the cat. In another 12 years the MagnaFlow exhaust won't look rusty like the stock pipes, since it is made of stainless steel. | 
Chris Winter whipped out the sawzall to cut the intermediate pipe (just before it goes over the axle) in order to remove the stock exhaust. | 
Once the 13mm bolts on the hangers were removed we were home free...well, almost. The rusty pipes required a little wrestling, and when they finally came off, I was surprised to find an Ultraflow muffler had been welded to the stock pipes. |