sure fire gains you can feel from basic adjustments without getting into airflow modeling ( maf & ve tuning) would be removing all torque management , raising shift points , reducing shift times , and raising trans line pressures ( conservatively on all these points if you want to maintain reliability)
allowing downshifts at higher speeds and removing speed limiter are also popular basic adjustments.
a 160 stat will throw a code for not reaching set temp on a drive , a drilled 180 will not. you can remove the code and run the 160 but most street applications stop at the 180 due to the drop off in fuel economy from the 160. i run drilled 180's headed for 11's this spring....