Has anybody modified their pump housing to accept a standard gm T-stat instead of the stocker which has really no temperature options?

Has anybody removed that 4way heater core bypass? -better/worse/no difference?

I'm guessing that the cold side of the radiator is on the passenger side right? ...that makes the most sense

I know of the T-stat in the 086 head(which is what I have) and was curious if that is what leads to the heads cracking...since they get thermal shock because the T-stat doesn't close until the entire hot coolant is exchanged and the additional heat is removed from the motor.

Sorry, alot of these questions are barely related, any discussion about any of these questions would be cool.

Does anybody know what the little return line coming from the top of the water neck on the head? I'm guessing its a air release line but how does it keep from overfilling the reservoir when the thermostat is in a closed position...hmmm.... Does it drain into the radiator into the cold side line and push coolant back out of the radiator toward the head from the hot side?