quote:What is the "Normal" water temp on these cars?
Very difficult to answer. Is your car still using stock gauges? If so, the readings are most likely not correct. Is your sending unit still in the surge tank fitting, or has the proper action been taken to move it to the engine block? Stock cars had such 'high' readings and so many owners - used to just idiot gauges - complaining to Ford, that they had dealers install a shunt resistor to bring the needle down into calmer territory. Still ran the same temp, but the gauge looked 'ok'.
Surge tank and block temp should be about the same; a good kitchen thermometer placed in the tank can be used to calibrate the gauge readings so you at least know real temps.
Many cars run in the 170-190 range. My car used to do that, but a slight leak followed with Bar's Leak has compromised the cooling and I now see 170-180 at cruise, but up to 220-225 in slow traffic. But no boil-over, no boiling sounds from the surge tank = no real problems.
The cooling system is probably the most discussed topic with our cars. A million different problems and solutions.
Whatever temps you are seeing, bottom line is this - If the car does not boil over, especially after shut off, you really have no problems.
Larry