i see your running an electric temp guage with the sender on water pump.  try putting it on the intake boss above the thermostat housing where it shoul be.  also try checking the guage,  i have had 2 autometer temp  guages crap out on me in about as many years.  also go online to dove website and buy their adjustable thermostat neck.  they have a stud you turn to adjust the opening and then a jam nut to hold in place. i put two of them on my 2 cars and get rid of those spacers with holes in them,  that way you can really fine tune the water flow through the system.  hope it helps.

in reference to valve train the factory rockers are actually really good.  the one upgrade thaat is a must and i know other guys will agree are to upgrade your end support stands, and also a chrome moly rocker shaft.  precision pumps makes nice ones and i run them on a 12:1 428 and have had zero problems.  and friends of mine that run the fe also have done the same.  the kits come with  shims so  you can really dial in  your factory rockers.  remember most of all valve train geometry is crucial no matter what motor a person runs. also the factory drip trays i run,  but ford made different styles of them.  i have mixede feeling on them but on your heads they will fit with no modification,  but that also depends if you go with aftermarket rockers then you open up a whole other can of worms. but that is a different area than what you need answers too.  hope this helps

I lost your number.  were you still wanting to buy that  convertor if not its going back on my shelf.

it was a pain in the butt trying to find the problem. I even pulled heads thinking that I put head gaskets on backwards. I know I didn't but when things like this happen you start to question yourself.  but any way I was looking in radiator and stuck my finger in and you just didn't feel any water pressure pushing against finger and or very very little.  so I sent in pump,  it was the last piece of puzzle and thank god it was the problem.  yeah I know I spent money but it was towards the better just to upgrade the whole cooling system.

I have one that I used at the track for about 5 passes.  it is a thousand over stock I have part number and convertor at my shop. I will look tomorrow and let you know any questions feel free to call me at 7014713121 my name is clint