Hello truckernix,
I have the same gauges as your 38 Chevy master... Yes, the needle is just a hair below the red and sometimes moves over ever so slightly at idle... Is your master temperature gauge around the red at idle after sitting for a few minutes or just below it while you drive? I will check the coolant temp with a meat thermometer after my next run...
Tclederman has a point, any engine will run as hot as it wants regardless of the thermostat. It is all bout water and air circulation but all engines are different. My (43 Jeep) flat head 4 cyl. with a 160 deg. thermostat never gets above 165-170 deg. of normal driving... After a hard run or in a very hot day it will be in the 175 deg. range but rarely... Another GM product I have (38 Century) with a 160 deg. thermostat runs about the same as my 216 (180-195 deg.) what I consider hot with a lower rating thermostat...So maybe these motors like the 185-195 running temperatures regardless...I really don't know the factory recommended running temps. for the 216 engines...
