A spring time update on the car running warm... I took the car to Cars'N'Coffee this morning, so its on my mind.
I think I have live with the fact that this car runs a little warm, especially in traffic after coming off the highway.
Driving around town without any highway, the car runs just a bit over center on the gauge. Same while on the highway, but once I get off the gauge climbs near the red (see picture in post above) at traffic lights. It eventually settles down to about 3/4 on the gauge if I keep driving on local roads and the gauge never gets into the red. I think the GM 3 speed automatic should have been a four speed. It is really revving on the highway.
Last year I had the rad cleaned and replaced all hoses and the thermostat. Since then I have added a Pertronix ignition and re-timed the car. I also put in a new rad fan switch and took out the PO's jumper that made the fan run all the time. Temps do seem more predictable now and I drive the car more, since I am less worried.
Speaking of the thermostat. I am not a fan of the external thermostat on this car. I am sure it is designed to operate at a certain temp, but come on... it is hanging out in space connected to the block by rubber hoses. Block mounted t-stats just make more sense to me.
I have also started running the 87 octane "regular" gas rather than premium, it is all ethanol blend here in STL. Maybe I am imagining it, but the car seems to run fine and even a few degrees cooler on the 87. I have no science behind that, just observation since I switched the fuel.
So that's the update. Things are good for now, but the STL summer isn't here yet. That is another test.