Put a 180 or even a 160-degree thermostat in it.
I have a crate 350 in my '62; new 4-row radiator, OE-style 7-blade 18-inch fan with mechanical clutch on it. I don't have my fan shroud on it yet, but that fan, sitting a good 8 inches back, will suck a piece of paper to the front of the radiator at idle.
I THOUGHT I dropped a 180-degree t-stat in there last fall, but it turned out to be a 195. It ran too hot for my liking, and once the temperature got into the 70s last week, it REALLY ran too hot for my liking.
I swapped in a 160, and now the OE gauge shows it closer to the cool side of the gauge than it is to the middle. I like the needle to run straight up, because of Atlanta's hot summers. In the past with a 160, it ran a little on the cool side of straight up. I'll have to see what it does next month. Right now, with temps in the 60s and 70s, it would like a 180-degree t-stat.
Put a big multi-blade clutch fan on it, the shroud, an overflow tank and a 160 or maybe 180-degree t-stat, and you should be happy.
-Brad
