new to me 11' SHO. colder plugs and t-stat ok w/o tune?

[8nutz8]

picked up my '11 SHO today with a baby-ish 12,500 on the clock mods are already on the mind but it will be a couple months before pocket book allows. tune will be 1st up of course. on my previous boosted platform(3800 v6 supercharged) I know it was completely acceptable and even recommended to go to a cooler plug on a bone stock setup. so I'm thinking of stepping down a heat range on the SHO. any reason not to do this?
as far as a 170 t-stat goes . . I know fan settings won't coincide but figure car will just get up to heat a little slower before the fan-on temps are reached. shouldn't cause any trouble as far as I can tell?
are the reisch 170 stat and lms the only 2 options for cooler t-stat?

anyhow, I wanna keep things cool as possible  but won't be able to tune when I make these changes.and can't see why either of these things would hurt but figure id check with the good people of the forum before I start tinkering. any input welcome!!

 

[SHOdded]

Welcome to EBPF, 8nutz8, congrats on what sounds like a really sweet deal!

Correct on TStat options.  Can precede tune installation if you want.

Motorcraft SP534s work fine, if you really wanted to, you can use the NGKs instead.  I think they are one range colder.  But unless you are running a hipo setup, I dont see them as being NECESSARY.  The TStat helps quite a bit in that regard.  I know bpd1151 runs the NGKs, hope he chimes in with his thoughts.

 

[sholxgt]

Wow, that is low miles!  Congrats on the find!

Love those S/C 3800's.  They sound like a chainsaw at full tilt.  Was yours in a GP, Regal, or?

I suggest reading up some on the spark plugs.  I believe that AJP has a post where he made the point that the one step colder NGK's are a lesser plug than the standard heat range versions.  I don't recall if it was the electrode or tip that is not iridium on the one step colder or something else, but they are one step down in quality I believe. 

My understanding is that Ford had two plug revisions for these motors so the SP534's may be an improvement over the stock plugs in your '11.

 

[8nutz8]

Wow, that is low miles!  Congrats on the find!

Love those S/C 3800's.  They sound like a chainsaw at full tilt.  Was yours in a GP, Regal, or?

I suggest reading up some on the spark plugs.  I believe that AJP has a post where he made the point that the one step colder NGK's are a lesser plug than the standard heat range versions.  I don't recall if it was the electrode or tip that is not iridium on the one step colder or something else, but they are one step down in quality I believe. 

My understanding is that Ford had two plug revisions for these motors so the SP534's may be an improvement over the stock plugs in your '11.

my 3800 is a GP gtp, modded to beat all hell lol! cam/IC/headers/e85 etc.

I've read up some of the spark plugs options. I know it's definitely not necessary to go cooler but I know a lot of cars have knock from the factory and a cooler plug can prevent the PCM from pulling timing.personally I like ngk plugs and wouldn't mind replacing them a little more often since they're so easy on this car.
I'll do the thermostat soon too, just wish they weren't so pricey. whoa the cheapest vendor for a reisch 170?

 

[SHOdded]

Don't know the cheapest vendor for the 170, you might be able to get cheaper if it's part of a package.

UnleashedTuning and EcoPowerParts are two vendors I know who sell the 170.

 

[sholxgt]

Just to clarify...the Motorcraft sp534's are re-boxed/branded NGK's.  I think the sp534's are already one heat range colder than your factory plugs...

http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php?topic=1914.0

Not trying to talk you out of NGK's.  Just want you to have more info.

The 170 thermostat for this car was roughly triple the price I have ever paid for a thermostat, so I appreciate your shopping.

 

[FoMoCoSHO]

Don't know the cheapest vendor for the 170, you might be able to get cheaper if it's part of a package.

UnleashedTuning and EcoPowerParts are two vendors I know who sell the 170.

I think our newest vendor, Ecobeast Billet, has them as well.

LME has a 160 degree option too.

 

[8nutz8]

http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php?topic=1914.0
read up on this thread. the 10' SHO came with stage 5 heat range plugs and the 11+ came with 1 step colder (stage 6) plugs from the factory. modded Sho's even step down to stage 7 but I think for my stock SHO stage six will be just fine. I guess it is time to pull the plugs and confirm which heat range they are. anyone know how to tell on a motorcraft plug? if they're a 6 I'll probly just leave well enough alone

 

[SHOdded]

Motorcraft SP-528 CYFS12Y3
MOTORCRAFT SP534 CYFS12YT3

The heat range appears to be the same (1).  I have attached an older ID chart.  The correlating NGK plug numbers have more value in that regard.

 

[Spoolin-SVT]

As for the 170 T stat , to my understanding when i did mine that it wouldnt really help unless I had the tune for that. I know that sounds dumb but it was due to the fan's  not turning on until it hit the factory tempature.
I ran mine with the 170 t stat and a stock tune and don't remember much difference, but once I my custom tune loaded the temp stayed way cooler because my tuner had the fans come on at 170.

 

[ZSHO]

I recall years ago the Reische 170-stat being an overall quality piece made in Germany that came with a gasket that FITS around the edges of the Stat,FYI the 160-Stat does NOT come with a gasket and depending on the condition of the old gasket and IMO would make sure to get a new one for a secure leak free system and would also emphasize on making sure to install the Stat first then the gasket second,pic's below.  Z