Thermostat temperature recommendations

Thermostats control the minimum operating temp, not the maximum, so if a thermostat is marked 180 for example, that has zero to do with how hot the engine will run. All it means is the thermostat begins to open at 180 degrees. The maximum operating temp is a function of the rest of the cooling system, not the thermostat. For a stock application, I would stick with the stock thermostat (probably 192 or 195) or use a 180 as an option, although whichever degree opening I chose, I would use a high flow thermostat, regardless.