Originally Posted by 69shovlhed

the engine kinda heat soaks after you shut it off. normal. your new t-stat may open a bit later than the old one. not a big deal either. the bulging hose if its old means its weak and should be replaced. if its new, might just be a tad different size than the old one. the upper hose should feel hot and the lower should be way cooler if the system is working correctly. one more thing, your radiator cap may not have sealed as good on the old radiator. it is designed to vent excess pressure if there is any. might be working correctly now, although i have seen a very few that failed in that they would not vent excess pressure correctly. sounds like get a new hose and cap if they're old, and just keep an eye on the gauge.