Ok, here's my setup. New 302, new RPM Elderbock Alum intake-w/holley 600cmf, headers, new 3row radiator, new flowkooler waterpump, new 180t-sat. new hoses and my water mixed is 50/50 with wetters. I finally replaced my old Temp gauage with a mechanical one.The old gauage was reading about 3/4-close toH. Now with my new gauage it's showing 180-190 in the city and hwy.After running the engine for awhile, I will kill the engine and gauage will move closer to 200 in a few minutes from sitting. Is this to cool? My engine has about 700 miles on it. I'm taking the reading from the intake and not the block.
Thanks

 

If you have a 180 -190 deg thermostat sounds like all is well.
My 347 has a 180 in it and the fans kick on at 190 does the same thing.
No thermostat would run too cool.

 

Sounds perfectly normal to me. Since the engine is not running and circulating coolant, the temp will rise after you shut the motor off.
-P.

 

+1

 

Sounds normal, but180F isstill on the cool side for optimum efficiency. It sounds like your cooling system is working very well, meaning that the temperature is being regulated by the thermostat instead of the cooling system, as it should be. I'd recommend swapping in a high-flow 195 t-stat. This will keep the engine slightly warmer, improving combustion efficiency and reducing carbon buildup in the chambers.