As far as I know the tstats are the same... I think I bought the 180* in my 06 motor for a 98. And Z34, sadly your probably right. I would like to think GM was fine tuning things and decided to open it up but its probably a materials thing. You gotta think an ounce or two less per part times like a billion of these motors that were made = more profit.
On a side note, you have to do an alternator or timing belt on that 3.4 DOHC yet? I really liked that motor and the redline it had but boy was it a PITA to mess with. I had a 95 z34 monte years ago...
