Rick,
I'm running the Pond 482, all aluminum. It's not and air entrapment problem as all other times, other than the intial temp spike, the temps are dead nutz on (between 180 to 185). I can, even after a long (hard) drive, let the car sit and idle in 80deg weather and the thermostat will modulate open and closed to maintain 180 deg. I let it set running like that for 30 minutes w/no increase in temps. Air inthe system is not aproblem. I did the "wrong side up" on the head gaskets on a 428 I built so I know the head gasket dilema, not an issue here. I'm about as sure as I can be that it's just too low flow through the engine w/the t-stat closed, stem pockets and the whole mess. Afret, I bought another t-stat, talked to Stewart Componants Technical, and have drilled 4ea 1/4" holes. I'll install today and report back on the findings.
btw, fyi.. I've a AAS in Automotive Technology and a "not-current" master ASE cert.. so... pretty heavy w/theory etc. knowledge.. It's Just a hobby though .. as HVAC pays much better here.
Yea, Va beach is the shiznits during the summer. The co-ed Russian babes are here all over the place, dressed in minimal garb.
...and eager to dive head-long into Capitalism