In cars the thermostat when cold is closed and the water circulates in the block for for quicker warm up. It warms up and starts letting the water out to the radiator. when the whole block is more than (usually 180 degrees) it stays open.  I think having the thermostat in the wrong place would complicate things and I am not at all convinced that you need one at all. KISS. I would want more than a few seconds of run time on the engine before I headed up into the wild blue yonder.

It is also possible to get the thermostat in upside down (what looks right is not necessarly right) and crack the exhaust manifold at least on a car.

This is not like sitting in your driveway late for work wanting the car to warm up quickly to beat the clock, this is your life!

Ralph