Agree that all you have done should be delivering lower temps.
I have been following your adventures so I know the car is pretty new to you.
The one wildcard in my mind is the condition of the coolant passages in the block. What condition was the coolant your removed?
My 490 hp 455 warms up to the T-stat set point of 185 and never goes above that. All my factory "helps" for the 400 & A/C cars such as the filler panels (upper/lower/sides) are all removed to minimize deconstruction for the future paint job. I do have a pricey Rodney Red radiator. Our heat indexes here in Central OK are 100 to 105 all summer long.
2012 Mustang Boss 302 #1918, Competition Orange. FGF replacement 2006 Mustang V6 Pony, Vista Blue. Factory ordered. 2019 BMW X3 (Titled to the wife, but I'm always driving it for her. So I'm claiming it) Old projects, gone but not forgotten: 1967 FB 400, original CA car. After 22 years of work, trashed by the guy who was supposed to paint it. I had to sell it. 1980 Turbo Trans Am 1970 Mustang fastback, 351C 4Bbl, auto 1988 Mustang GT, 5 speed 1983 F-150 4x4, built 302 1994 Chevy K2500 HD 4x4, 454 TBI
