I am going to start by saying it sounds like you do not have a problem.
Thermostat set MINIMUM operating temp - which is most likely 180
Internal combustion engine needs to run hot - otherwise a normal cooling temp is 190 to 210 assuming you are using 50:50 mix for coolant.
Engines can run much hotter with other coolants
Internal combustion engine is a thermal engine, with very low mechanical efficiency - best case for a modern engine is that only 47% of combustion engine gets converted to mechanical energy, the rest becomes heat energy
When your timing, mixture or compression is off/wrong, efficiency drops and you make more thermal energy to the point of exceeding what your cooling system can handle - so you begin to see temps exceeding 210
This of course assumes cooling passages, radiator, water pump and thermostat are working correctly.
Also - very few temperature gauges are accurate
In addition, perfectly normal to puke out some coolant since it expands when hot - basically it needs to set it operating level after an initial fill.
Fan belt slip at idle can cause rise in temp. Fan is only needed when vehicle is not moving. Retarded timing can cause rise in temps at idle.
I set my timing on my 235 between 5 and 10 BTDC with a timing light
