[DAVID GAGNARD]

Me thinks your factory gauge is not all that accurate.... I would get a mechanical gauge and stick it somewhere in the car temporarely and see what the reading are on the street........

Your thermostat will not open till it reaches it's temp rating, sometimes it seems to take forever..........
BTW: I ALWAYS check a new thermostat in a pot of water on the stove to make sure it is working properly.........

Some years ago I added a 12" pusher fan (temporarely mounted) to the front of my radiator for parades, it worked fine........ I would think anything from 12" on up would help, just make sure it is shrouded, I've also found the curved blade fans work better than straight blade fans...........

Over the years, I have expriemented with 4 radiators, 1/2 dozen electric fans, different pulleys and 3 water pumps on my 65 Fastback to get it where I could do the Forth of July parade here, (usually about 100 degress outside) with no problems.... I can now do the parade which last about 45 to 60 minutes.....first 40 minutes or so, temp stays around 180 to 185, then afterwards starts creeping up, by the end of the parade (50 to 60 minutes later), I'm about 190 to 195 degress, 2 miles down the road and I'm back to 180..........

David