Thanks for the reply... I'm glad that my car used to run like yours, because to be honeset, they all run like yours. Mine is the exception now... I can remember my father having an 85 300 when it was only 5 years old and it ran like yours.

Had no idea the thermostats varied, mine came from the dealer, whichever they put in... At this stage of the game, its hard to get accuracy out of these cars. Each one has evolved into its own identity, with their aging and tolerances varying, its hard to get a text book reading from a 20 year old VDO guage. Even if your car is 17 year old, some of the parts may be older! Don't forget these cars when made in a day before "Just In Time" techniques were a standard.