RUNNING HOT..after doing good stuff

[Shoebox]

OK guys,
Thanks to all who have followed along with this journey and posed some very valid questions and suggestions. Here is the conclusion to this all. I removed the stats and took the Merc for an extended drive on Sunday. The temp was slow to rise (outside temp was 60 degrees) and NEVER got completely to N normal, this was cooler than the past two years of driving this car (Skips pumps work) so when getting back home I let the car idle till the original equipment temp gauge did get to N. I then used my just purchase laser temp gun and shot the upper rad tank and …….. the temp was 155 degrees, this is what N represents on my car! Previously when I drove with the stats and the temp needle went to the ¾ line on the gauge I saw it as running hot. At this point I will reinstall the stats, consider the ¾ line on the temp gauge as NORMAL, and call it good.