87C is equal to 188.6F.
160F thermostats were used back in the days of non pressurized or non
permanent anti freezes for summer and some racing applications.
Back then 180 was for winter use.
Now 190 and up is the norm with some vehicles actually specifying 205.

Contrary to some beliefs here, the ECU does not do much of anything
different at 70 or 87C. Once the engine control goes closed loop,
somewhere around 120 to 130F, the O2 sensor is the ultimate control and it
does not go for a different range based on temperature. The Digifant does
have some control on ignition timing, I guess to control ping or NOx
emissions but you won't notice the difference driving. The only time the
temp 2 reading is really used is for start up and warm up enrichment.
After that they could have used a switch.

As for a 2.1 into a 1.9, can be a direct fit. The 1.9 digijet and ignition
supports it just fine, same injectors. I prefer to upgrade to the 2.1
cooling system with oil cooler, exhaust, (better design and brackets),
throttle body, (larger bore), and leave the rest of the 1.9 controls. The
2.1 idle stabilizer can be grafted into the 1.9 with little effort.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Scott Daniel - Shazam
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 6:15 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 2.1wbx into 85 GL

The normal metric hot one is 87 degrees C.
If in amercian, see if you can get 195 degrees F.
That's what I run in the winter.
An American thermostat may not last that well, and run cool again before
years and years go by.
The standard traditional normal  F rating has always been 180, btw. Since
forever.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Matthew Snook
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 1:56 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 2.1wbx into 85 GL

That's good to know, especially for this winter (the desert (great basin)
is
dang cold!) I'll put a different thermostat in. I just finished a 1500
mile
trip for business and fun, got 19 mpg.  Better would be better.  And now
that the ambient temperature is getting down toward 10F, more in the
heater
would be better, too!

What do I look for?  90 degrees?  I don't even know what denomination they
come in.

Matt

-----Original Message-----
From: Evan Mac Donald
Subject: Re: 2.1wbx into 85 GL

A cooler thermostat will lead, in general, to lower MPG, because of the
way
the way the ECU interprets the signal from the Temp2 sensor...  ...The
cooling system in a waterboxer Vanagon could handle general duty cooling
for
a small V-8!