Would like to see cooling combos that work

You may be moving the coolant to fast. It needs time to absorb the heat and transfer it out in the radiator.

I would stick in a 180 stat, Stock water pump, and get a fan shroud if you don't have one. Having a shroud is a hugely important part of the cooling system.

People often over think their cooling system and modify a very good stock system into one that simply doesn't work.