Yea the thermostat is a lot less important than in the 3800 game. Having a all aluminum motor with efficient heads helps out a lot. your stocker opens up at 187 and the fans kick in at 192 regardless. Unless you have a custom operating system via hp tuners or efi live.

Edit: also go for the ms plug wires there odone of the best. Also the stock air box is trash even if you mod it it still a turd. Make a intake preferably a FWi