I've been doing a lot of research prior to installing the temp & pressure gauges on my truck. The oil pressure gauge is installed and properly connected now, works great. I have given a great deal more thought to the temperature sending unit because I really didn't want to cut the hose to install the in-line holder from Glowshift.

I have also researched and read good things about using a 180* Chevy thermostat in these trucks. I have decided to do the conversion to install the 180* Chevy thermostat and to use this in-line bleeder-valve with site glass and an extra port for my temperature sending unit.



I just got off of the phone with the guy and they said it's no problem, they actually have some already made that have the extra port for connecting a steam vent tube LT1 and LSx engines.

Looking forward to cooler running temps from the new thermostat setup and being able to monitor the temp more effectively!

Here's a link to the thermostat conversion I found on Dweb.

In the pic below, you can see how the modification works. In this mod the owner installed a bleeder valve inline- I'll use the bleeder valve shown above with the site glass and an extra port for my sending unit all in one!

 

I got the bleeder valve with the site glass and the extra port for my temperature sending unit today... It's an impressive piece of hardware!





As you can see in these pics, I've already installed the temp gauge sending unit.

 

Dude this rocks.... I cannot wait for the follow up on full installation... cooler temps...ahhh makes me smile.

 

pretty neat... i bought a ultraguage to monitor the temps and other goodies... cheap too. not as comprehensive as my autoenginuity package but, for $50??

UltraGauge Automotive Information Center and OBDII Scan Tool

 

Can you post a picture of the thermostat that you mentioned. The only GM LS1 V8 thermostat is internal, picture below. The DII is external.
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/achakra/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png[/IMG]

 

Here's a nice set of pics that Josh put together when he did this mod.

Here is a list of the parts:
• Gates #22639 Radiator Hose (trimmed, used as lwr rad hose )
• Meziere #WN0071 Inline Thermostat Housing
• Drive-Rite #C71372 Radiator Hose (trimmed, used from rear of thermo housing to upper engine block)
• “traditional” Chevy V8 180F Degree Thermostat (1/8" trickle hole drilled into base)
The fwd upper hose is the O.E. LR hose simply trimmed.

Mine is only slightly different from Josh's and everyone else's because I'll be using the bleeder valve with site-glass and it already has an extra port for the sending unit for my auxiliary temp gauge.

The best price I've been able to find on the Meziere inline thermostat housing is at DBR High Performance for $55.99 plus about $11 in shipping. I'll just get the hoses and thermostat from Autozone- I think I've got some money from them on my rewards card anyhow!

 

As an aside, if anyone intends to do this and wants to buy the Meziere inline thermostat housing from DBRHighPerformance.com, you can use discount code streetcarforums for an additional 5% off of their price- which is already the lowest I could find and has reasonable shipping.