I need to put a thermostat in my 455 - 4bbl. Currently it has no thermostat. The parts store says the OEM is a 195 degree stat. I've never owned an Olds before but plenty of other brands with big blocks and this doesn't sound right to me. Can anyone confirm the correct thermostat for this engine? Thank you.

 

That sounds right. However, I personally prefer a 180* 'stat. I only get the Mr. Gasket or Robertshaw high flow units. They were available in the performace section at autozone for a while - I think they still are...

Check out this post for more info...
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...html#post36000

 

a second for the 180 stat

 

Thank you both. I'll take your advice.

 

I like 160 for a big block mainly since where I live there is a lot of stop and go traffic. I change it to 180 at winter time for heat.

 

Here in Texas, just as I do w/ all the small block Chevys I've had out here, I go w/ a 160* all year long. I think I'd do it even if I still lived in New York. The 190s are so close to over-heating, that if you do get too hot f/ one reason or another and don't catch it right away, the temp is out of sight and you may have some damage done by then. Atleast w/ the 160*, you have more time to react and shut down prior to melt-down. W/ the 160*, you still get a good operating temp where the engine operates efficiently.
It is good to go w/ a quality brand. Thermostats are one thing that I've had "defective" right out of the box more than one time. This is an item that you need to work properly f/ sure.
The 180* mentioned doesn't sound bad. That may be a better application than the 160* f/ up north in the winter. I DO remember those frigid days in February: "Today the high will be 6* w/ clear sunny skies." My last winter in New York, '78/'79, February had three of the four weeks w/ the high of 5 to 10 degrees. The snow didn't melt and the wind blew hard. I left that March, f/ good.