hey i hope this helps,1 flex fans will kill a small block with headers or hard on ones with manifolds,heat rapping headers can decrease you under hood temp thus decreaseing eng temp ,especialy when you are idleing with a flex or clutch fan,the clutch fan will help but the way to go is a black max elec thermo controled fan,easy modification,wiring is cake. if your run a low temp t stat or non ,the coolant can flow to fast and not stay in rad long enough to exchange enough heat thus builsding slowly,,3 50/50 no more no less,otherwise you lower your boiling point,4 a high presure cap and not letting the steam vent when needed increases engine temp,5 i saw sombody with a very good point ,the water pump,the have some that flow reverse,or if you have modified your belt system ,some serp systems require a reverse water pump <the coolant flows the same way just the pump turns oposite to do it,