I finally got to give my cooling system mods the acid test today. Took it on a 120 mile loop through the hills that I last drove in 2018, which led me to look for some solutions. 15 mile 5%-6% grade taken at 2500-3000 in third gear. Needle climbed a bit, but never got past 12:30, and as soon as I topped the 10,000 foot summit, temps quickly dropped back down. As a matter of fact, by the time I got back to the bottom, it had dropped all the way down to just off the bottom mark. My last trip on this mountain road, I was just about to pull over and stop because the needle had hit the bottom of the white block at the top of the scale when I crested the summit.
The other scenario that used to get it hot and bothered was flat out freeway droning on the way home. Today, the gauge never passed 11:55 even at 15 minutes at 75 mph.
And good news: my cap stayed firmly in place with the low windscreen, even at 75 mph. 
I thought Carey would need a cutting torch to get me out.