I think the general wisdom is not to remove the thermostat. It's a good 
thing, helps your engine warm up quicker (even in the summer), and 
regulates the temperature of the engine for optimal performance and minimal 
wear and tear. It's there for a purpose and you don't stand to gain 
anything by removing it. This applies to all air cooled-engines. It's 
amazing how often this question gets asked.

-Mark McCulley
----------
>From: 	Dc311vw@aol.com[SMTP:Dc311vw@aol.com]
Sent: 	Monday, July 29, 1996 5:40 PM

=========================================================================
Date:         
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         
Subject:      Thermostat???

Hello everyone, I'm building an engine for my girlfriends ' 61 Bug and am
wondering about the thermostat.  I'd like to NOT install it at all and wire
the cooling flaps into an "always open" position